It is a busy week for Idaho track and field. Athletes combine to compete in five meets in a seven-day span — most will compete in at least two meets this week.
A couple Vandals competed in the California Invitational Multi-Events Wednesday and Thursday in Azusa, Calif., before their teammates joined them for the Mt. SAC Relays Thursday to Saturday in Walnut, Calif. Some athletes will also compete in the Bryan Clay Invitational Friday back in Azusa, Calif., and the Beach Invitational Saturday in Norwalk, Calif. Lastly, a group of 15 to 20 athletes is staying home to compete in the Cougar Invitational Saturday in Pullman.
“I think our No. 1 objective (for this week) is to get some good competitions in and good weather,” Idaho coach Julie Taylor said. “We want to continue with the success we’ve had so far this year and have some opportunity to see some real quality athletes and some real quality competition.”
Of all the meets this week, the Vandals will focus on the Mt. SAC Relays. This prestigious three-day meet gathers the best athletes in the nation. It is the largest meet in the nation during this time of year and includes collegiate, professional, Olympic-development and high school athletes.
“Everything is always to prepare yourself to get to the (WAC) Championship,” Taylor said. “A meet of this caliber is something that prepares the kids mentally … they have that opportunity to compete against some of the best in the nation. Anytime you have that opportunity, it’s going to make you a better athlete.”
Multiple meets give athletes multiple opportunities to compete. Throwers in particular benefit from increased chances to get marks down in a short period of time. Athletes can also compete in different events in separate meets during a short period of time.
“We’re just trying to get as many competition throws in before the WAC Championships in three weeks,” sophomore thrower Kyle Rothwell said. “It’s definitely a good thing that we get to decide what we want to throw and how many times.”
Distance runners also enjoy the extra opportunities to practice. Sickness, injury and early season training prevented most of Idaho’s distance runners from competing in more than one or two meets this season. Many of the distance runners are hoping to get back on track, literally, during the next several days.
Most of the distance runners will compete this week but, top distance runner Hannah Kiser is not making the trip to California due to illness. Senior Maggie Miller returns from an injury this week after redshirting for the 2011 indoor and outdoor seasons.
“We’ve had some really good opening performances (this year) … (Mt. SAC) will be one of the first meets where there’s great weather and we’re at sea level so I think everyone is ready to run fast and throw far and jump far,” Miller said. “It definitely has a prestigiousness about it … not everyone gets to run there so it’s a really great opportunity to compete against literally the best track athletes in the nation.”
In addition to the Vandals travelling to California, another group will stay home to compete at Pullman in the Cougar Invitational.
“The (Cougar Invitational) is always a good meet for us,” Taylor said. “Especially some of our younger kids, it will give them the opportunity to compete at kind of a level that they are used to. We are hoping to see some good marks here as well.”
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]