Eugene, Ore. • BYU’s Anna Camp-Bennett won the the NCAA title in the women’s 1500m with a school record-breaking 4:08.53, leading the Cougars’ women’s track and field team to a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships here on Saturday.
Camp-Bennett used an incredible kick with a little more than 100m remaining to claim the 1500m national title. The senior earned All-America First Team honors and became the first Cougar to win the NCAA title in the event since 2000.
“I just try to sit in that top group and hope my speed can carry me through,” Camp-Bennett said in a statement. “Luckily, the other girls were so fast and set good paces. There were a lot of girls that were really, really quick and I was hoping it would turn out, and it did.”
After breaking the program record two days prior in the semifinal with a time of 4:09.53, Camp-Bennett’s time broke her own school record by a little more than a half-second in the championship performance.
“That was a thrilling performance by Anna,” said BYU track and field coach Diljeet Taylor. “She has a tremendous kick and was so determined on that homestretch for the win.”
With Camp-Bennett supplying 10 points on her own, the BYU women’s team totaled 20 total points to finish 10th in the final standings. It marked the best team finish at the outdoor championships since the 2005 team finished 10th.
“A top-10 finish for our women caps off a tremendous year for the women of BYU,” Taylor said. To say I am proud is an understatement. This year showcased years of faith, trust, hard work and passion.”.
The BYU men placed 17th after their competition concluded on Friday. This is the second season in a row that both the men’s and women’s programs have finished in the top 25 and the first time since 2009 that both teams placed in the top 20.
