In case you haven't noticed, BYU track tends to perform very well in the steeple chase.
Such is the case with Taylor Lovell, the Cougar star who kicked down the stretch and surged to a national championship victory at the NCAA nationals in Eugene, Oregon.
Besting her own personal record by seven seconds, Lovell had finished in 9th place in her freshman and sophomore seasons in the championship heat. But she found that extra gear as she won the final event by a wide margin, drastically improving over the time that gave her the third-best entry time for the event.
Now as a junior, Lovell is a national champion.
TAYLOR IS THE STEEPLE NATIONAL CHAMP!!!!!
— BYU Track & Field/Cross Country (@BYUTFXC) June 14, 2026
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/qk9TnWMnG9
She employed a brilliant strategy to put herself in a position to succeed here, chasing on the heels of the top-two runners for much of the race before digging her toes into the track's surface and soaring past the leaders into a final lap worthy of the Chariots of Fire treatment. Vaulting the hurdles and springing from the water, Lovell notched into the flow state of her career.
Hers was a result that reflected the national reputation of BYU track in the steeple chase event -- dominance. With her victory, BYU has won four steeple chase national championships in the past six seasons.
"I'm so proud. I have so many women before me and with me that I'm so grateful I can do this for them," Lovell shared, bright-eyed and smiling wide in the aftermath of her race.
"Originally, the plan was to move around the water jump. I went a little bit early, but I think she knew that my racing instincts would kick in. ... I think it was the right decision."
"You have to get through both the water jump and the final hurdle before you can really get excited," Lovell shared her mentality when it became clear she could win the championship. "It's always the last [barrier that makes me nervous]. It was really fun; I love barriers, but that last one was really nerve-wracking."
"It's really exciting to be able to continue a legacy."
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