Utah Tech University’s women’s track and field team completed the 2026 WAC Indoor Track & Field Championships with ten top-eight finishes and six new school records at The Podium in Spokane, Washington.
Senior Lainee Leavitt was the team’s only field event competitor on Saturday, placing sixth in the high jump by clearing 1.61 meters and earning three points for Utah Tech.
On the track, junior Makayla Pitcher set a new school record in the mile with a time of 4:55.02, also finishing sixth to add another three points. Senior Megan Jenkins tied a school record in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.57 seconds, securing fourth place and five points for her team.
Junior Averie Perriton broke her second school record of the weekend in the 3000-meter race with a time of 9:49.67, which earned her seventh place and two more points for Utah Tech.
The final school record set during the championships came from the 4×400 relay team composed of Megan Jenkins, Whitney Christiansen, Kelly Denninghoff, and Hannah Bingham. Their combined effort resulted in a time of 3:49.52 and a fourth-place finish worth five points.
Other point scorers included freshman Hannah Bingham, who finished seventh in the 400 meters for two points, and Whitney Christiansen, who placed eighth in the 800 meters to add one point.
School records were achieved throughout several events:
– Mile: Makayla Pitcher (4:55.02)
– 3000m: Averie Perriton (9:49.67)
– 5000m: Averie Perriton (17:05.99)
– 4×400 Relay: Megan Jenkins, Whitney Christiansen, Kelly Denninghoff, Hannah Bingham (3:49.52)
– Distance Medley Relay: Hailee Phillips, Whitney Christiansen, Savannah Rydalch, Makayla Pitcher (11:57.73)
– Pentathlon: Megan Jenkins (3,357 points)
Top eight finishes included:
Second place for Hailee Phillips, Whitney Christiansen, Savannah Rydalch, and Makayla Pitcher in the distance medley relay; fourth place finishes by both Megan Jenkins in the 60m hurdles and by Jenkins/Christiansen/Denninghoff/Bingham in the relay; fifth place for Megan Jenkins in pentathlon; sixth places by Lainee Leavitt (high jump) and Makayla Pitcher (mile); seventh places by Hannah Bingham (400 meter), Averie Perriton (3000 meter), Averie Perriton again (5000 meter); and eighth place by Whitney Christiansen (800 meter).
Looking ahead to outdoor competition season this spring, Utah Tech will host its own invitational meet on March 21 at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George.
