27 Jul 2023

Brigham Young University’s Lexy Halladay-Lowry has counted an impressive roster of elite Latter-day Saint distance runners as teammates  — including Anna Camp-Bennett, Aubrey Frentheway Nielsen, Courtney Wayment, Claire Seymour, Alena Ellsworth and Whittni Orton Morgan.

Now each of those Cougar greats have moved on, opening up a leadership void that Halladay-Lowry is poised to fill as BYU makes its historic shift to Big 12 competition. 

She’s eager to sprint down the paths her speedy predecessors have blazed.

“Being able to watch what all those women have done in a BYU singlet just shows what’s possible,” Halladay-Lowry told Church Ball Magazine.  “Now every time I step to the line, I know it’s not just for me — it’s for my teammates, for past Cougars and for future generations of people who will run at BYU.”

The Boise, Idaho, native will enter her senior year of collegiate cross country and track competition with a well-established rep. While Halladay-Lowry may be one of the “new girls” competing in the Big 12, her rivals all know who she is.

For starters, Halladay-Lowry is already a national champ and an accomplished individual performer. She was a freshman on BYU’s 2020-21 NCAA Cross Country Championship squad, and has claimed All-America honors in cross country and in the NCAA steeplechase.

And last month, she placed eighth at the U.S.A. Track and Field Championships in a steeplechase final that included Wayment, her former Cougar teammate.

“I just feel gratitude,” said Halladay-Lowry, reflecting on her success in recent national competitions.  “I’m grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given at BYU — especially to be on this team with Coach [Diljeet] Taylor and all of my teammates.”

Racing at “Steeplechase U”

Halladay-Lowry can now add her name to the growing list of BYU-produced elite Latter-day Saint steeplechasers that stretches back to the glory days of multi-Olympian Henry Marsh. 

More recently, BYU’s Erica Birk-Jarvis was a 2019 All-American in the steeplechase — a long-distance track & field event that includes several barriers and water jumps.

Wayment claimed the NCAA national title three years later and has gone on to become one of the world’s top steeplechasers.

Meanwhile, returned missionary Kenneth Rooks etched his name on Cougar lore this year when he won the men’s 2023 NCAA steeplechase title and, weeks later, defeated a field of pros in the U.S. track and field championships.

BYU has become “Steeple U.”

“Honestly, the steeplechase is a hard event,” said Halladay-Lowry. “It’s so hard on your body.”

The newly awarded steeplechase All-American credits the school’s success to BYU coaches who “just seem to have the event down.”

Halladay-Lowry echoes many of her former teammates when talking about the impact Taylor has had on her BYU steeplechase and running career.

“Coach Taylor is all about the process and doing things the right way,” she said. “My journey at BYU has been far from linear…. But Coach has always believed in me. She’s promised me success if I do things the right way.”

A Gem State running prodigy

Halladay-Lowry’s collegiate success is no surprise to those who followed her prep career at Idaho’s Mountain View High School. She won multiple state titles, finished 4th in the 2018 Foot Locker Nationals and was one of the country’s most highly recruited high school distance runners.

Growing up in western Idaho, Halladay-Lowry’s first love was soccer. But even on the pitch, she discovered she could "run for days and days — I was always the most aerobically fit player on the soccer team.”

Recognizing his daughter’s speed and endurance, Scot Halladay encouraged young Lexy to try distance running. She broke the record in the mile at her elementary school. Soon she was competing in state and national meets. As a high school freshman she set a national record for her age in the mile.

Running, she learned, could take her far. It was also a lot of fun. “I genuinely love the sport.”

Halladay-Lowry considered several colleges. But her desire to maximize her talents under the tutelage of “Coach T” made BYU a fairly easy choice. She was also eager to represent her faith at the Church-sponsored school.