USA Track and Field outdoor championships: BYU’s Lexy Halladay-Lowry races to back-to-back US steeplechase titles

NEW YORK CITY — With a full season of the U.S. national championship on her shoulders, Lexy Halladay-Lowry put Steeple U on her shoulders, and carried herself like a champion at the USA Track and Field outdoor championships

The former cross country national champion at BYU used a punishing final kick to clinch her second consecutive 3,000-meter steeplechase women’s national title with a season-best time of 9 minutes, 12.54 seconds Saturday at Icahn Stadium.

Halladay, who trains in Provo with BYU coach Diljeet Taylor and Nike’s Swoosh TC, pulled past reigning U.S. fastest Gabi Jennings with 600 meters to go and never let up to clinch her second national title in as many years as a professional.

“Gabi made a move right before the mile, and I knew no one could run away from me,” Halladay told NBC after the win. “My plan as to go out, go with whatever the pace, and not take the lead until I knew I could take it — and drive it home.

“She made a strong effort at 1,200, but I just kept it rolling … I had the confidence coming in that no one could beat me if I just raced calm and confident.”

Lexy Halladay-Lowry leads 5 BYU alumnae in steeplechase final

Jennings finished nearly five seconds behind Halladay in 9:17.42 for second, a career-best finish at the U.S. championships for the Furman alum who trains in Boulder, Colorado, ahead of Madie Boreman and Angelina Ellis.

Fellow BYU alum Courtney Wayment, the record-setting former Davis High star and U.S. Olympian who also runs for Swoosh TC, finished fifth with a season-best time of 9:19.90.

AN ICAHNIC WIN 🏆

Lexy Halladay-Lowry defends her #USATFoutdoor title in the steeplechase with a stadium record 9:12.54, using a devastating final 600m to pull away from runner-up Gabbi Jennings and claim her first win of the season with the championship on the line. pic.twitter.com/7cqTkuq6Xv

— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) July 25, 2026

In just her second year as a professional, Halladay entered the race with the second-fastest American time in the event in 9:13.33 — trailing only Jennings’ 9:11.72.

The Idaho native made her move after six laps, taking the lead over Jennings while Wayment and 10-time U.S. champion Emma Coburn gave haste.

Coburn finished seventh in 9:29.68, and recent BYU graduate Lexi Goff-Thompson finished 11th in 9:48.16 after Lone Peak alumna ran a 3:16.06 final split for the top-12 finish.

Karilynn Baloga, the former Big Sky steeplechase champion at Northern Arizona who transferred to BYU ahead of the 2026 season, finished 15th with a season-best time of 9:55.44.

In the men’s steeplechase final, Daniel Michalski finished fourth in 8:17.78. The 29-year-old airplane mechanic and Air Force vet who moved to Provo last spring to train under BYU coach Ed Eyestone was four seconds behind Hoka pro Nathan Mountain, the former second-team All-American at Virginia who dived for the finish line to win his first U.S. championship in 8:13.81.

Mountain finish ninth at the NCAA outdoor championships just six weeks ago.

BYU’s James Corrigan, the rising senior from Los Angeles who captivated the nation en route to the 2024 Paris Olympics, was seventh with a season-best time of 8:21.05.

Other day 3 highlights at USA Track and Field outdoor championships

BYU’s Carter Cutting lined up in the men’s 1,500-meter finals — and even pushed the final pace — before ultimately finishing 12th.

Running under a recent name, image and likeness deal with Hoka, the rising senior from Wilsonville, Oregon, who briefly prepped at Corner Canyon ran a blistering 57.07-split that pushed him from the back of the pack into sixth place — and charging.

But Cutting, who won the NCAA indoor mile championship, was pushed outside by a handful of pros and Northern Arizona standout Rheinhardt Harrison to finish in 3:51.65 — over a second behind champion Nathan Green (3:50.27).

Nathan Green NEVER gave up in the final lap for his men's outdoor 1500m NATIONAL TITLE! 💨

📺 USATF National Championships on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/xeHaNVleQe

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2026

In the women’s final, recent BYU graduate Carlee Hansen-Thompson, who prepped at Woods Cross, finished 10th in 4:12.64 behind a series of blistering times that included four-time U.S. champion Nikki Hiltz (4:06.92), Adidas pro Addy Wiley (4:06.96) and New Balance’s Emily Mackay (4:06.98) in a photo finish.

BYU’s Paje Rasmussen Brady advanced to the finals of the women’s 200 meters before finishing ninth in 53.86 seconds.

Next up

The USA Track and Field outdoor championships wrap up Sunday with the final events at Icahn Stadium, including former BYU and Provo High standout Meghan Hunter in the women’s 800-meter finals.

Coverage of the event begins at 2:25 p.m. MT on NBC and Peacock.

Courtney Frerichs, the Olympic and world silver medalist runs for Nike and Utah’s Run Elite Program while training in Park City, will take part in the women’s 5,000-meter final at 2:41 p.m. MT.

Grant Fisher, the American record holder in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, is in the men’s 5,000-meter final at 3:19 p.m. MT.