National-qualifying women share their stories of hope

Thursday, March 12, 2020 is a day that five student-athletes from the BYU women’s track and field team will never forget. Elise Romney, Whittni Orton, Alena Ellsworth, Anna Camp-Bennett and Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes were among the top athletes in the country at the NCAA DI Indoor Track and Field Championships. The BYU women’s track and field team earned its highest national ranking since 2012, cracking the top 10 at No. 9. After a season filled with breaking school records, setting personal bests and climbing up the BYU all-time record board, these women were ready for the opportunity to show what they could do on a national stage.

Individually, Romney was set to compete in the pole vault and Orton was competing in the 3000m. Orton, Ellsworth, Camp-Bennet and Ellsworth-Barnes were all in for the distance medley relay. After clocking 10:53.95 at the UW Invitational on Friday, Feb. 1, the relay team not only set a new school record but ran the fastest time in the country. The women’s DMR team also broke the previous Dempsey Indoor Track Arena facility record (10:55.01) and earned the seventh-fastest time in NCAA history. 

Along with their coaches and seven members of the men’s team, they flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Wednesday, March 11, to prepare for the national meet just two days later. As soon as they got off the plane, news reached them regarding the postponement of the NBA season. Feelings of uncertainty started to rise, but the athletes continued to practice with confidence and positivity. 

The NCAA first announced that spectators would not be allowed and attendance would be limited to essential staff. Just one day before they were supposed to compete, the NCAA canceled the 2019 DI Indoor Track and Field Championships due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The following day, the spring season was canceled, including outdoor Nationals. 

A mix of heartbreak and devastation flooded their emotions initially, but these five women gained perspective and peace as they look to the future with a fiery motivation to compete again when the time comes. They recall their best memories from the 2020 indoor season leading up to Nationals and share their untold stories after learning that their season was cut short.

Elise Romney

Senior Elise Romney from El Paso, Texas, described the 2019 indoor season as her breakthrough year. Romney broke the school record after clearing a height of 4.31m/14-1.75 on her third attempt at the Jacksons/Nike Boise Indoor Invite on Feb. 8. Romney resided at No. 4 on the BYU all-time list before unexpectedly breaking the school record and climbing to No.1. The previous record (4.30m/14-1.25) was set by Christen Botteron Guenther in 2012.

“My favorite memory of the season was definitely the Boise meet when I officially broke the school record and jumped 14 feet for the first time,” Romney said. “It was my third attempt and I was going from a shorter approach than I normally would in a competition. We had waited for more than two hours to even start jumping, so I decided I was going to treat this meet like more of a practice. Instead of pushing myself, I slowed everything down and focused on my breath. I executed what I had done so many times in practice instead of trying to make an extravagant jump. It was smooth and ended up being a really good jump.”

After a stellar 2019 outdoor season, Romney set goals for her 2020 indoor season. She wanted a shot at Nationals.

“Making it to regionals last year and doing well was a turning point for me,” Romney explained. “I realized that I had way more potential in me than I thought.”

Romney knew what it would take to qualify but after clearing 14 feet, it was a waiting game. 

“I was watching live results in other conferences during MPSF because it was the last meet of qualifications,” Romney said. “I was worried that I would get bumped out and not make it, but I ended up taking the last spot. That was a huge relief and brought so much excitement. I had never been to Nationals before and I had been waiting for a jump this big for a while.”

Leading up to Nationals, Romney was looking forward to the opportunity to compete with so many talented athletes on a prestigious stage. She found confidence in clearing high bars during practice in Albuquerque. However, even practicing felt “surreal.”

“Everyone was practicing on the track but we knew we might not even be able to compete,” Romney stated. “For me, my emotions were initially anger. This was the peak of my whole career and it was all being taken away from me. At the time I really didn’t understand what was going on – I don’t think anyone did. The understanding came later. Over the next couple of days after that, everything was shut down and we realized what we were really facing.”

Since then, Romney has relied on the support of family, teammates and coaches. She is thankful for the support that BYU Athletics has given as well. She has taken the time to set personal and athletic goals for herself moving forward. Romney plans to compete next year during the 2021 outdoor season. 

“Right now I’m focused on getting in better shape so that when I can jump again, I’ll be ready, Romney said. “Next year I hope to make it to outdoor Nationals and be even better than I was this year.”

Whittni Orton

Senior and All-American Whittni Orton from Panguitch, Utah, could not be stopped during the 2020 indoor season. She broke three individual school records, including the women’s 3000m (8:49.63), 5000m (15:22.98) and the mile (4:29.76). Along with breaking school records, Orton’s performances placed her on the national leaderboards. In the NCAA, she ranked No. 1 in the 3000m, No. 2 in the mile and No. 4 in the 5000m. Orton also ran the anchor leg on the NCAA-leading women’s distance medley relay (10:53.95) with Ellsworth, Ellsworth-Barnes and Anna Camp-Bennett. Orton was prepared to make program history in the 3000m and the DMR at the NCAA Championships. 

“I had a goal before the indoor season to show up for every meet no matter what,” Orton explained. “I’ve watched the best runners and they don’t have off days. I knew I could build on my momentum to make me better this year.”

Orton attributes her success to the lessons she’s learned while working through injuries, the support of her family and coach Diljeet Taylor.

“My past injuries have taught me to push through the tough things and persevere,” Orton said. “I’ve learned to love cross-training even when it’s hard. My family has also supported me through everything. Coach Taylor can see things that I can’t see. She has held me to a level that I never thought I would reach.”

Orton also recognized the physical and spiritual strength she has received by relying on her faith. 

“This season I decided to not just be confident in myself but find confidence in Christ because he has the power to do anything,” Orton explained. “During times of hardship, turning over to God has been key for me in being able to come back stronger. During my 5k, the last 800 meters were very hard.  I said lots of prayers and was able to finish stronger than I had been running the entire race.”

Her confidence grew stronger as she approached Nationals. She had been working towards the goals she had set with coach Taylor since the beginning of the season and Nationals was her chance to make them happen. Even after a minor setback, Orton was determined to win.

“Coach Taylor had zero doubts in her mind about what I could accomplish,” Orton said. “I got sick and had to take some time off before I could work my way back to being confident. By the time I got to Nationals and it was the day before the DMR, I was feeling good again. After I finished cross-training that day, I talked to coach Taylor and told her I was ready and that it was my time.”

When Orton heard the news of the cancellation, her goals felt crushed again. At first, she wanted to escape. It wasn’t until she was back in Provo on the day she was supposed to race in Albuquerque that it hit her. 

“I felt like I didn’t have anything to show for my whole year of working for hours every day and continually sacrificing,” Orton said. “Then I looked back and realized that I had a ton to show for it. There’s been a lot of hidden blessings. Working hard like that is never something you can regret.”

The realization that everybody is going through something difficult right now, yet they’re not giving up, has been comforting for Orton during this time. The unity that coach Taylor continues to create for the team, even when they’re apart has been positive support.

“I’ve made my best friends in the world through women’s distance,” Orton said. “It feels more like a family than a team.”

Orton is looking forward to her remaining seasons on the team and continues to set goals for her 2020 cross country season and the 2021 outdoor season. 

“I want to be the best I can be,” Orton stated. “I’ve been up in the mix with the top runners, so I definitely want to be up with them or the top runner if that’s what I have in me. I want to win some big things.”

Alena Ellsworth

Junior Alena Ellsworth from Gilbert, Arizona, competed on the women’s distance medley relay team. After traveling to the NCAA Championships last year as an alternate for the DMR, Ellsworth knew that this was her season to shine. Ellsworth landed at No. 9 all-time in the 800m after she clocked a personal-best 2:05.85. Ellsworth also claimed the No. 10 spot in the 400m (55.58).

“My favorite part of this season was when I ran my 2:05 in Seattle,” Ellsworth said. “It was a breakthrough race for me with a three second PR. I found confidence in that performance and realized I had a shot at doing very well this year. Of course, the DMR was another great experience. We had to run it twice, but being able to be with my team and run with my sister was amazing. I ran the 400m and she ran the 800m so I got to hand off the baton to her.”

Her sister, Lauren, has been the biggest influence throughout her running career. 

“Last year when Lauren went out and did her best, she achieved her 2:02 at regionals,” Ellsworth said. “It inspired me to do my best too.”

Ellsworth also noted coach Taylor’s ability to see her potential before she even could on her own. Leading up to Nationals, Ellsworth continued to see success in her times during workouts. 

“My emotions for the majority of the season were excitement,” Ellsworth said. “After being an alternate for the DMR last year, I was determined to be in it this year. As I started running faster times in the 400m, I knew I could do it.”

“When we got to Nationals I was still excited, but as we realized that we wouldn’t be able to run, it became upsetting and confusing,” Ellsworth explained. “I had been waiting for that moment to run for a whole year. The whole dynamic that we had been working on for the past year felt like it had been taken away. I wanted to run for and with that team.”

As the days passed, Ellsworth gained a new perspective and learned to rely on her team unity for strength, even if they weren’t running together. She has put effort into developing her piano skills, working on relationships and spending time with her family. Ellsworth is thankful for the bond she has with her teammates and knows that not even time apart can weaken it. 

“It’s more of a sisterhood than just a team,” Ellsworth said. “I’ll love these women for the rest of my life.”

For the 2021 season, Ellsworth wants to be a member of the DMR team again. She expressed her goals to move up more on the top-10 board in the 400m and 800m and make it to Nationals in the 800m. 

Anna Camp-Bennett

Senior Anna Camp-Bennett from Fillmore, Utah, competed as a member of the school record DMR team for the second year in a row after finishing second at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships and earning first-team All-America honors. During the 2020 season, Camp-Bennett set career bests in the 800m (2:04.19) and the mile (4:38.54) and climbed to No. 5 and No. 4 on the BYU record board, respectively. Camp-Bennett’s performance in the 800m placed her on the NCAA leaderboard with the seventh-fastest time in the country. 

“My favorite memory of the year was definitely setting the school record in the DMR,” Camp-Bennett said. “Especially with having to run it twice, it was a whole different memory both times.”

Like the other women on her team, Camp-Bennett recognized coach Taylor as the biggest impact of her collegiate career. Reflecting on her past four years, Camp-Bennett knows Taylor saw something in her and never gave up.

“I’ve taken a long time to develop compared to some athletes,” Camp-Bennett said. “She saw something in me and just never stopped believing in it until I was running the times she knew I could run.”

As a returner to the women’s DMR, Camp-Bennett had been preparing for more than a year. The buildup was intense but it paid off. The DMR became more than just four teammates running together. It was four best friends that developed an unparalleled dynamic that guaranteed success.  

“Getting second place last year at Nationals, we wanted to do something we’d never done before,” Camp-Bennet said. “That fired us through the next outdoor season as we all started running faster times. Coach Taylor got us excited in the fall and as soon as the cross country season ended, we were talking about the DMR nonstop.”

Despite the countless hours of preparation, Camp-Bennett knew from the minute they landed in Albuquerque that this year’s NCAA Championships wouldn’t be the same. 

“We had to prepare physically that we would compete, but emotionally we had to be prepared if we wouldn’t get to,” Camp-Bennett explained. “When conferences started pulling out, we knew that even if we did run, it wouldn’t be the same. When they did make the announcements, I had mixed emotions.”

Like her teammates, understanding came with time. Although it could have been easy for her to focus on the dispiriting nature of the situation, Camp-Bennett has committed to what she can control.

“I know I’ll have more chances to race, but I’m focusing on what I can do today to make my dreams a reality,” Camp-Bennett stated. “It’s all about working on the process of getting there. I’m trying to get my body as fit as I can to hit the fastest times.”

Camp-Bennett has taken this time of social distancing to reach out to her teammates and nurture the relationships she has with them. These very relationships are what have molded her to the person she is now after four years on the women’s distance squad. 

“I’ve made lifelong friends. I love the person I’ve been able to become because of the people I’m around. I have more confidence to go after the things that I want with no regard.”

Camp-Bennett is looking forward to racing more with her team during her final season of cross country and the 2021 outdoor season. 

Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes

Junior Ellsworth-Barnes from Gilbert, Arizona, shares a similar experience with Camp-Bennett as a second-year member of the DMR team. Ellsworth-Barnes was named a first-team All-American after finishing second in the DMR at the 2019 Indoor Championships. During the 2020 indoor season, she moved up to the No. 6 spot in the 800m (2:04.79) on the BYU all-time record board. She was also a member of the No. 1 women’s 800m squad in the country, along with Camp-Bennett and her sister, Ellsworth. 

Ellsworth-Barnes experienced a season of growth as she became happier with her performances throughout the year. 

“The season started out really rough for me honestly,” Ellsworth-Barnes said. “As the season progressed, it got better. I had a breakthrough meet in Seattle where I walked away happy. Then we had MPSF and I felt good about that as well. By that point, I was excited to compete with my team again at Nationals.”

Her favorite part of being on the track and field team is being able to run with her sister–and that’s what she got to do on the women’s DMR team. When they heard the news of the cancellation, her sister was the first person she thought of. 

“Before thinking about myself and how I felt, I first thought about how each person was impacted,” Ellsworth-Barnes said. “This was the second Nationals Alena had been to, yet she still wasn’t able to run. I thought about how this was Anna and Whittni’s senior season. Everyone had a special connection to the DMR.”

Because of everyone’s unique, individual connections, Ellsworth-Barnes explained that it’s been a personal experience working towards a feeling of peace.  

“For me, getting to that point was seeing all the blessings in my life that have come from this situation,” Ellsworth-Barnes said. “I’m getting to spend more time with my husband and do things that I wouldn’t normally be able to. We’ve also stayed focused on the process this whole time, which has helped us. We’ve been able to see the good in the process.”

Ellsworth-Barnes is focusing on running, staying healthy and coming back stronger for the 2021 indoor and outdoor seasons. 

While it’s been a difficult transition, each athlete has learned to stay positive, stay healthy and stay hopeful for the future. Each shared a message of what they learned and wanted to share with their family, teammates and the BYU Athletics world: 

“Embrace every opportunity that you have to be kind to somebody and be your best self,” Romney said.  “With sports in general, it can all be over in the blink of an eye because of an injury or the end of your career, so enjoy every part of it.”

“Don’t take anything for granted. Be grateful for every opportunity you get in life,” Orton said. “I truly have no regrets about the season, and now that everything has processed I’m just feeling extremely grateful for what this season gave me and for the support and love I saw from so many people – my family, team, coach and fans.

“You're going to have more failures than success, but you need to focus on those successes – they are what make all the difference,” Ellsworth said.

“Remember to enjoy it. Right now we can’t compete in front of people or for anything, but we can still find enjoyment from our own progress,” Camp-Bennett said.

“Be grateful for the things that you have,” Ellsworth-Barnes said.