By Sam Draut

The University of Louisville track and field teams have wrapped up the regular season and head off to

the AAC Conference Championship, but not before Brittany Owens headlined the regular season.

Owens has been a stand out thus far, collecting two victories at the Meyo Invitational and the Hoosier

Hills Invitational in long jump.

The sophomore from Boise, Idaho registered a mark of 6.11 meters in the Meyo Invitational and 5.99

meters in the Hoosier Hills Invitational.

Her personal best of 6.11 meters is good for the top mark in the American Conference and ranks her

26th

 nationally.

After her impressive showing at the Meyo Invitational, Owens was named AAC Women’s Field Athlete of

the Week.

“I was honestly really shocked that I got it. I set my personal record which was nice and I won the Meyo

invitational with 20 feet and half an inch, so I was really happy and pleased with that, but I want more so

I am working for that,” Owens said.

Along with the long jump, Owens also competes in the triple jump, an event that she holds the American

Conference’s fourth best mark in.

“I love triple jump, but it is very hard on my ankles, coach doesn’t have me doing it as much, I’m hoping

to be on podium for that at conference, so I’m working for that too,” Owens said.

The AAC Indoor Conference Championship begins this Friday and runs through Saturday. Two weeks

later, on March 14 and 15 Nationals take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“I want to qualify for nationals. So, I’m just working towards getting those victories and hopefully

getting a victory at conference,” Owens said. “It is the top 16 marks in the country, so I would have to

jump a couple more inches to get that.”

Owens has begun to hit her stride after moving nearly 2,000 miles away from where she was the two-
time Idaho Girls Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year.

“It took a lot getting used to, there are a lot of different things coming into play when you go from high

school, so making that adjustment is probably the hardest part,” Owens said.

“It was definitely hard, not having a support system at first is hard,” Owens said. “But then you learn

you do have a support system with your team, your coaches, your friends and it makes the transition a

lot easier.”

During her freshman year, Owens competed in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, winning her first

outdoor event in the long jump at the Border Battle. She also opened her career at the Hoosier Open

with first place finishes in the long jump and triple jump.

Now in her second year, Owens progression has helped her to become a top contributor on the team.

“My freshman year I had a lot of problems with the board, I was fouling all of the time, on a very good

day I would jump a 19-foot-8,” Owens said. “Now I can consistently hit that no problem. It is nice to

know I can contribute to the team even on a bad day.”

And despite being so far away from home, Owens believes she found the right fit.

“I love this University, everyone is so supportive and not just for the big teams, but for everyone. It

really helps knowing you have a big family to support you along the way,” Owens said.

Owens will continue work towards her goals as she continues to star for the University of Louisville track

team.

“Going into conference, I want to come out with a win in long jump, I want to beat the school record,

I want to place in triple jump, and I want to qualify for nationals,” Owens said.