BYU's Hedengren breaks NCAA 5,000 meter record in dominating fashion

Freshman phenom Jane Hedengren smashes previous collegiate mark by over a second at Bryan Clay Invitational

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a college track and field competition, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors representing the energy and movement of the event.Hedengren's record-breaking performance at the Bryan Clay Invitational showcases her talent and versatility as one of the top distance runners in college.Salt Lake City Today

BYU freshman Jane Hedengren broke the NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter record on Friday, running 14:50.50 and winning the event by over 8 seconds at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. Hedengren led wire-to-wire and dominated the field, already owning the indoor 5,000m and outdoor 10,000m NCAA records.

Why it matters

Hedengren's performance continues to cement her status as one of the top distance runners in college, and she is poised to have a historic season for the Cougars. Her ability to break records in multiple events showcases her versatility and talent.

The details

Hedengren led the race from start to finish, pulling away decisively over the final 2,000 meters to win by over 8 seconds. She smashed the previous NCAA record of 14:51.62 set by Florida's Parker Valby. Hedengren's BYU teammate Lexy Halladay-Lowry, running for Nike, placed second.

  • Hedengren broke the high school national record on this same track the previous year.
  • Hedengren already owned the NCAA indoor 5,000m and outdoor 10,000m records prior to this race.

The players

Jane Hedengren

A freshman phenom at BYU who has already broken multiple NCAA records in distance events.

Pamela Kosgei

A runner from the University of New Mexico who competed against Hedengren in the race.

Lexy Halladay-Lowry

A BYU alum running for Nike who placed second in the 5,000m race.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, last year really, really enjoyed this meet. I'm just privileged to come back, especially coming back now in college with the team. I had fun last year and had some fun tonight and both were great opportunities.”

— Jane Hedengren, BYU Freshman

“I think that pace was faster than what I ended up running today. But that's good. We just keep looking forward and we're in a good spot and I'm confident in that. It just didn't quite show through how we wanted it today and I just kept moving forward and now celebrating.”

— Jane Hedengren, BYU Freshman

What’s next

Hedengren plans to add the 1,500 meter event to her schedule this season, in addition to competing in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.

The takeaway

Jane Hedengren's dominant performance in the 5,000 meters further solidifies her status as one of the top distance runners in college. Her ability to break records in multiple events showcases her exceptional talent and versatility, and sets the stage for what could be a historic season for the BYU Cougars.