The Big 12 outdoor track and field championships kick off this Thursday in Tucson, Arizona, and both BYU and University of Utah athletes are ready to chase glory under the desert sun. Running through Saturday, the event promises high-octane competition, with all the action streaming live on ESPN+. Whether you're a Cougar or a Ute fan, here's your essential guide to who's competing and when to tune in.
Thursday's action gets underway at noon MDT, as BYU sophomore Kaden Passey opens the decathlon for the Cougars. By 1 p.m., the heptathlon heats up with BYU freshman Tia Brown and senior Zoey Bonds, alongside Utah freshman Glo Hussey. As the afternoon rolls on, the field events take center stage: at 3:30 p.m., BYU's senior Lia Katoa, juniors Lia Pili and Jayda Lee, and sophomore Kat Beachler aim to make their mark in the hammer throw. Then, at 5:45 p.m., BYU senior Brinton Paulson and sophomores Carson Riner and Hayden Gribble launch into the javelin competition.
The evening brings the distance runners into the spotlight. At 7:30 p.m., BYU junior Carter Cutting—fresh off his NCAA indoor mile title in March—and senior Caleb Johnson take on the 1,500-meter. Twenty minutes later, the women's 1,500-meter preliminaries feature a deep BYU squad: freshman Jane Hedengren, seniors Carlee Hansen-Thompson, Carmen Alder, and Jenna Hutchins, along with freshman Zariel Macchia and junior Taylor Rohatinsky. Utah counters with Josie Fale, Grace Moroney, and Lindsey Peters. At 8:15 p.m., BYU's Beachler and junior Alysa Keller shift gears to the javelin, while at 8:30 p.m., the track sizzles with the 200-meter preliminaries. BYU's Paje Rasmussen—who holds the school record—and Mikensi Smith lead the charge, with Utah's Chelsea Amoah, Matejah Mangum, Rachel Bair, and Claire Le Gallo in pursuit.
The hurdles take over at 8:50 p.m., as BYU senior Logan Hubler and sophomores Garrett Copelin, Jayden Jessee, and Treyton Anderson storm through the 400-meter hurdles preliminaries. Twenty minutes later, BYU seniors Mayci Taylor and Kali McEuen race in the women's 400-meter hurdles, joined by Utah's Maria Alvarado. The night caps off at 9:30 p.m. with the grueling 10,000-meter, where BYU's Creed Thompson—a runner-up last season—leads a pack including Davin Thompson, Dalton Mortensen, Tayvon Kitchen, and Hunter Kitchen. With hardware on the line and rivalries renewed, this is a championship weekend no fan should miss.