Wayment ran 9:13.60 en route to a 12th place finish in her Olympic debut and the sixth-fastest time of her career. The 26-year-old from Layton, Utah was the top-finisher from Team USA in the 7.5 lap event.

“That was a great effort by Courtney today running at a really hot pace for that first mile,” said Diljeet Taylor, BYU women’s head cross country coach and associate director of track and field. “She handled it really well, was tactically sound and looked good throughout the race. I was really happy with how she rallied and am excited for what is to come for her.”

Wayment’s finish also marks BYU’s highest Olympic placement in women’s track and field since 2000. A four-time NCAA champion, Wayment has placed in the top-14 in the world for three consecutive years in the 3000m steeplechase (12th in 2022, 14th in 2023, 12th in 2022).

“I ran the smartest race that I could have and I am very proud.” said Wayment. “Thank you so much for the love and the support. Hopefully we made you proud. There is more to come and I am excited for the future.”

The next Olympian with BYU ties to compete will be former Cougar Kenneth Rooks, who will go for an Olympic medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final Wednesday at 1:43 p.m. MT.

Hanselmann, Springer and Lythgoe join BYU swim and dive staff

BYU head swimming and diving coach Tamber McAllister announced the completion of her staff on Monday with the hiring of three assistant coaches in former Cougar swimmers Christian Hanselmann, Melissa Springer and Emma Lythgoe.

Hanselmann’s BYU homecoming follows extensive coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and high school levels in Indiana, Tennessee and Michigan.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Hanselmann came to BYU from Mt. Verne High School in 2008. Hanselmann specialized in backstroke and butterfly for the Cougars while under the mentoring of McAllister, who was an assistant coach.

Following his freshman season in 2008-09, Hanselmann set aside swimming to serve a two-year full-time mission (2009-11) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Upon returning from missionary service, Hanselmann completed his Cougar swimming career during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

Hanselmann graduated from BYU in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and wellness, then completed a master’s degree in sport psychology and motor behavior at the University of Tennessee in 2015.

Springer, a former BYU teammate of McAllister, returns to the Cougars in 2024 with 18 years of head coaching experience in both high school and club swimming in Michigan and Wisconsin.

A native of Aloha, Oregon, Springer swam for BYU during the 2001-02 season following her prep career at Southridge High School. Springer interrupted her time at BYU in 2004-05 to serve a full-time 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Campinas, Brazil.

Lythgoe comes to BYU after four years as the head boy’s and girl’s swimming coach at Newbury Park High School in Newbury Park, California. Under Lythgoe’s guidance, the Newbury Park girls secured their first string of back-to-back (2023-2024) league championships in a decade along with their first-ever county championship.

A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, Lythgoe came to BYU in 2014 from Horizon High School and the Arizona Marlins swim club. Lythgoe prepped under coaches Sam Kramer and Mike Maczuga, respectively, then went on to be coached by then-assistant Tamber McAllister while at BYU (2014-18).

A two-time All-MPSF performer for the Cougars, Lythgoe established herself as a leader both in and out of the pool with a position as team captain and Student Athlete Advisory Council president.

Lythgoe graduated from BYU in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, then went on to earn a teaching credential from California State – Northridge in 2020.