SPOKANE, Wash. — Utah Valley claimed four titles on day one of the WAC championships at The Podium in Spokane, highlighted by a sweep of the 5000-meter championships and a school-record time in the men's DMR to win gold.
After the opening day of competition, Utah Valley sits in first place on the men's side with a total of 63.5 points, ahead of second place Tarleton State who has 46. The women's team sits in second place in a tight field, trailing leader UT Arlington who has 67 points and holding a slim two-point edge over Tarleton State.
Porter Whitworth claimed his first conference title as a Wolverine with a time of 14:20.50, while Morgan Nokes reclaimed her crown in the 5k with a time of 16:16.09 after previously winning the event back in 2024.
The men's DMR quartet of Pierce Vittone, Cayden Tupper, Gilbert Olivas, and Collin Petersen took first with a school-record time of 9:55.06. For Vittone and Tupper, it is their second WAC title in the indoor DMR after winning it last season with what was also then a school record.
Grace Williams took home the gold in the pole vault with a mark of 3.75m, claiming her first indoor title and second overall after winning the outdoor championship last season.
Among Utah Valley's other medal-winning performances were Reagan Doman taking silver in the women's 5k, Seth Smith taking bronze in the men's 5k, Porter Westerlind taking bronze in the pole vault, and the women's DMR team of Makaylie Roberds, Mazee Southward, Julie Moore, and Elisabeth Ferrell taking bronze.
Utah Valley had 16 other athletes earn second team All-WAC honors by finishing between fourth and eighth in their respective events. Andrew Turner, Eddie Garcia, Trevor Hill, and Karsten Deakin earned All-WAC honors in the weight throw. Emily Conlin and Neal Berkey earned All-WAC recognition in the pole vault, while Maddie Passmore and Gavin Stafford each took fifth in the long jump.
The Wolverines dominated the 5k on both sides, with three second team All-WAC honorees on the women's side in Artana Nice, Mazee Southward, and Ari Trimble, and four on the men's side in Wyatt Mortenson, Cameron Jacobs, Trey Despain, Caleb Ream. Payge Walz took seventh on her debut in the pentathlon.
Friday's prelims saw one school record matched by Kade Thompson, who set a new PR of 6.65 in the 60-meter dash that Aaron Johnson's top time set in 2021. Thompson will race alongside Stafford and Gunner Stepp in Saturday's 60-meter finals, and Thompson and Stafford will also vie for a title in the 200-meter dash.
Eme Stout qualified for Saturday's finals in the women's 60-meter dash with a time of 7.62. James Duncan, Matthew Maclennan, and Walz each secured a berth in the finals for the 60-meter hurdles. Ella Hopper advanced in both the 200m and 400m.
All four of Utah Valley's athletes in the 800-meter qualified for Saturday's finals. Vittone and Jayden Fitzgarrald progressed on the men's side, while Jennaveve Bingham and Brian Anderson advanced on the women's side.
In the men's heptathlon, Neal Berkey sits in second place at the midway point, with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1000-meter run still to come on Saturday. Cole Johnson is in fifth, with Joey Trageser in seventh.
Saturday's events will kick off at 10 a.m. MT and will be streamed live on WAC International. The evening session with the remainder of the running events will begin at 3 p.m. MT and be streamed on ESPN+.
