Mya Lesnar, Sarah Carter help launch Colorado State to Mountain West track title

Star performances from Mya Lesnar and Sarah Carter and a deep team performance secured a Mountain West track and field title for Colorado State this weekend.

The Rams won the 2024 women's outdoor team title with 165 points, beating second-place San Diego State by 13.

It's the second straight Mountain West outdoor championship for the CSU women and fifth overall league title in a row, including indoor championships.

Carter helped seal the title late Saturday night in Fresno when she ran away with the 5K run in a time of 16 minutes, 00.80 seconds. That earned 10 points and teammates Lauren Neugeboren (fourth, five points), Kensey May (fifth, four points) and Claire Hengesbaugh (eighth, one point) added 10 more total in the race to seal the win for the Rams.

It capped a star performance from Carter, who was named the women's Track Performer of the Meet.

Her 5K win came following a win in the 10K earlier in the meet in a time of 34:00.70, 11 seconds ahead of second-place. She won the 5K by 10 seconds.

CSU's Brian Bedard was named Coach of the Year.

Mya Lesnar, CSU dominate throws

Mya Lesnar's dominance continues outdoor after winning a national title indoors earlier in 2024. She was named the MW Field Performer of the Meet.

She won the shot put (19.08 meters) and hammer throw (62 meters) at the meet. Her shot put throw is a school and league record and is currently the second-best mark in the nation. She won the national title in shot put indoors in March.

The throws were a boon to the Rams. Michaela Hawkins won the discus at 60.57 meters. In that event, four Rams finished in the top five with Gabi Morris (formerly McDonald) third at 54.28 meters, Klaire Kovatch fourth at 54.26 and Kajsa Borrman fifth at 50.10.

Morris was second in the shot put (17.52 meters) with Hawkins fifth (15.38) and Kovatch eighth (14.26). Borrman was fourth in the hammer throw (59.10).

The CSU women throwers racked up 64 total points.

Other CSU women winners:

• Quinn McConnell won the 800 run in a time of 2:04.51

• Yasmin Austridge won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:58.75

CSU men winners

The CSU men finished second in the Mountain West championships with 157.5 points. Air Force ran away from the field with 226.5.

CSU's Mariano Kis won the shot put with a top mark of 18.55 meters. It was a personal best mark for Kis. Ryan Birkmeier won the 800 run in 1:49.39.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Mya Lesnar helps launch Colorado State to Mountain West track title