Young athletes take pleasure in a swim whereas racing annual Steeplechase Showcase at BYU

PROVO — Young runners from across the valley tried their palms, legs, arms, head and swimming abilities on the race that, for a lot of, could also be extra like a pool social gathering. The annual Steeple Chase Showcase was held at BYU on Thursday, and plenty of runners swam their manner again onto the observe in an occasion that many younger athletes look ahead to annually.

Rachel Martinez, head coach of Wolf Pack Track Club, introduced her group to the occasion, and he or she stated meets like these are uncommon, including that they’re an effective way to reveal athletes to new occasions in a enjoyable manner.

“Every year, the kids look forward to it,” Martinez advised KSL. “It’s always a challenge having events like these because very few tracks have steeplechase pits.”

BYU not solely has a devoted steeplechase pit but additionally has a longstanding historical past of manufacturing stand-out steeplechase athletes, incomes it the nickname of “Steeplechase U.” In reality, simply final week, BYU’s Taylor Lovell won the women’s Big 12 Steeplechase title, breaking the meet document of 9:40.98. Another BYU athlete, James Corrigan, received the NCAA Outdoor Championships final yr, and Kenneth Rooks and Lexy Lowry swept the 2025 U.S. steeplechase championships.

Martinez stated meets just like the Steeplechase Showcase are much less conventional as a result of they permit youthful runners to attempt the race out. The meet director, John Hedengren, works exhausting to have occasions the place runners can attempt new issues.

“We have sprinters who will go do the 2,000-meter steeplechase because it’s so much fun,” Martinez stated. “We had a 6-year-old girl do the 400-meter steeplechase. This year, there was probably four times the amount of athletes as last year.”

Traditionally, USA Track and Field permits athletes ages 13 and older to compete within the steeplechase. In the youth classes, the race is 2,000 meters lengthy and consists of 18 obstacles, 5 of that are water jumps. The water pit is a bit of over 2 ft deep, and runners should clear a 30- to 36-inch barrier (relying on age and gender) earlier than touchdown within the water.

Martinez stated that whereas there have been “cannonballs” and some unintentional falls that resulted in no main accidents, having this occasion has the potential to provide some nice steeplechasers.

“John does such a great job with keeping this event low-pressure so these kids can come and try it for the first time,” she stated. “If they need to put their hands on the steeple, great, go ahead. Whatever you need to do to get over the barrier and grow the confidence to go and do it competitively.

“We really had our membership document damaged on the meet,” she added, “That’s what we would like for youths who’re prepared for it.”

Many of the athletes who competed on the occasion will race on the USA Track and Field state meet on June 25-26 at Timpanogos High School, adopted by regionals and nationals in July.