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BYU's Jane Hedengren, right, and coach Diljeet Taylor react to Hedengren breaking the collegiate 5,000-meter indoor record at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU's Jane Hedengren broke the NCAA 5000-meter record as she clocked a 14:44.79 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BOSTON – Jane Hedengren broke the NCAA 5000-meter record as she clocked a 14:44.79 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center on Saturday.

In the women’s 5000m Invite, Hedengren led the pack for the entire race with New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei just milliseconds behind her early on. The freshman began to pull away around 3600m and opened a five-second gap by 4000m. Her lead only grew from there, as she finished more than 14 seconds ahead of her teammate Riley Chamberlain in second place. Hedengren averaged 35.41 seconds per lap. The Provo, Utah product shattered the previous indoor 5000m record set by Doris Lemngole in 2024 by nearly eight seconds. She also became the first collegiate woman to ever break 14:50. Her time ranks as the 10th-fastest 5000m by an American and the 11th-fastest indoor 5000m in world history.

Sami Oblad posted a top-10 finish in the 800m with a 2:03.97. She took third, just over one second behind first-place Tayissa Buchanan of Penn State. The performance puts her at No. 10 in program history, surpassing Anna Camp-Bennett’s 2:04.19 from 2020.

Tessa Buswell also competed in the 800-meter invite, crossing in 2:04.93 to place fifth. Anne Elise Packard made her BYU debut, finishing in 2:06.25 for eighth.

In the 5,000-meter open, Jacey Harkins-Farmer won her heat and placed first overall with a 15:28.79. Jenna Hutchins and Nelah Roberts also competed, taking fifth and 14th, respectively. Roberts set a personal record of 15:43.07.

Bower enters transfer portal

All-Big 12 first team setter Alex Bower, who has started 60 matches for the BYU women’s volleyball team her first two seasons, has entered the transfer portal.

Bower announced on social media Saturday, “BYU will always have a special place in my heart. I will always believe in BYU’s mission and purpose. I’m so grateful for the time I’ve spent here the past two years. However after much thought and prayer, I will be entering the transfer portal to continue my volleyball career.”

Bower followed her sister Whitney, who is BYU’s all-time leader in assists and currently an assistant coach at the University of Utah. Two other sisters — Eden and Morgan — also played for the Cougars. The Bowers parents, Danny and Caroline, played basketball and volleyball, respectively, for BYU.

In two seasons as a starter, Alex Bower posted 2,396 assists (10.32 per set) and 52 service aces along with 502 digs (2.16 per set) and 123 total blocks.

The Cougars earned a No. 5 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round for the second straight season.

Huge second half sends women’s basketball past Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — BYU women’s basketball used a 54-point second half to improve to 9-1 for the fourth time in program history with an 87-53 win over the Portland Pilots at the Chiles Center on Saturday.

“Nothing is better in college basketball than winning on the road,” head coach Lee Cummard said. “Winning away from home is really hard, and I am really proud of our team’s resilience after a tough first half to respond with a 54-point second half. We still have a lot to clean up, but tonight was a big step in the right direction for our team.”

Marya Hudgins and Brinley Cannon combined for 39 points, including six combined makes from three, to lead the Cougars. Hudgins notched her third 20-point game in her last six outings with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, going 3-for-7 from deep. The redshirt junior also added four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Cannon turned in a career-high 19 points on 6-of-12 from the field, 3-for-5 from three with eight boards, three assists and a game-high four steals.

Olivia Hamlin was the third Cougar to finish in double-figures with Sydney Benally, Hattie Ogden and Gunlock each contributing eight points. Ogden recorded three season highs with four rebounds, four steals in 18 minutes.

BYU’s 54 second-half points are the seventh-most points ever scored by a Cougar team in the second half. The Cougars’ 29 points in the third quarter rank eighth all-time for points in a single period.

The Cougars forced 24 Portland turnovers and scored 30 points off Pilot giveaways. BYU outrebounded Portland 47-32, including 19 to nine on the offensive glass. The visitors from Provo scored 11 second-chance points, 16 points in transition and 22 bench points in the 34-point victory.

The Cougars next take the floor for a Thursday evening matchup as the Idaho State Bengals visit the Marriott Center on Dec. 11.

Walbruch, Kesler earn All-American honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches named BYU’s Ellie Walbruch and Lucy Kesler NCAA Division I All-Americans. Walbruch earned second-team honors, while Kesler was selected to the third team.

Walbruch’s career-high season places her atop the Cougars in goals (16), shots (91) and shots on goal (41). Her 16 goals place her among BYU’s most prolific goal-scorers, tying her for No. 13 in the record book for most goals in a single season. She now joins current professional players Cameron Tucker, Mikayla Cluff and Michele Vasconcelos in that category. Her 91 shots rank No. 10 in the record book for most shots in a single season. She also added one assist for a total of 33 points as a junior forward. Named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List and the All-Big 12 First Team, Walbruch proved to be a force in BYU’s attack. With an impressive run in the postseason, Walbruch tallied five goals in the Big 12 Tournament, earning Most Outstanding Offensive Player and earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

Kesler, a sophomore midfielder, started 22 games this season, missing just two while attending a U-20 USWNT Training Camp. With 1,681 minutes on the pitch, Kesler scored her first career brace against Oklahoma State and added three assists to her stat sheet. She joined her cousin Walbruch on the Big 12 All-Tournament Team, the All-Big 12 First Team and the All-Midwest Region First Team to close out a stellar sophomore season for the Cougars. Prior to the 2025 season, Kesler also attended the US National Team College ID Camp.

Cutting fourth in the mile at opening meet

BOSTON, MA — BYU men’s track and field team saw multiple program top-10 marks headlined by Carter Cutting’s taking fourth in the mile at Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener Saturday night.

“We’re super happy with the men in Boston.” assistant coach Ryan Waite said, “All four of them ran races that put themselves in contention for the win in their respective heats, ran personal bests, and had BYU all time top 10 marks. This bodes well for a great indoor season.”

Cutting ran the mile race in 3:56.79: BYU’s No. 3 all-time mark in the event, surpassing former Cougars Casey Clinger and Doug Padilla who held the two spots ahead of him in the program record books. A junior from Wilsonville, Oregon, Cutting, took fourth overall while setting a new indoor personal best.

Noah Jenkins, Tayvon Kitchen and Davin Thompson all competed in the 5,000-meter taking fourth, fifth and eighth respectively. Jenkins won his heat crossing the line in 13:30.22 and taking the No. 6 all-time BYU record in the event. Kitchen finished fourth in his heat in a time of 13:30.74 to take the No. 8 all-time record with Thompson finishing in 13:32.53 improving his personal record and retaining his spot on the all-time record board at No. 10.

The Cougar men and women will host the BYU December Invitational from Dec. 10-11 at the Smith Fieldhouse.