Swimmers help with cancer fundraiser
Several Idaho swimmers participated in the two-mile Swim Across America race in Seattle on Sept. 8. Six of the UI swimmers placed in the top 10 in a field that included 119 participants.
The race raises money for cancer treatment and research through several open-water races around the country. In addition to their top finishes, the Vandals raised more than $1,500 dollars for cancer research.
“Today was awesome,” Vandal coach Mark Sowa said. “We constantly remind ourselves that being a Vandal is more than just being a great athlete. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself. This disease will touch all of us at some point in our lives. For these athletes to do what they love, for the people they love, is absolutely inspiring.”
Vandals win Campus Showdown
Both Idaho men’s and women’s tennis players came out on top over the weekend in the University of Idaho Campus Showdown, a USTA open event.
Junior Bety Flores won the women’s draw beating out teammate Almudena Sanz, while senior Abid Akbar won on the men’s side. Several Vandals also competed in the USTA open event in Sun Valley, Idaho earlier this month as they prepare for the start of the collegiate season.
“The event went really well and our guys got a lot of good sets in against a variety of opponents,” Jeff Beaman, Idaho Director of Tennis and men’s head coach, said. “Most of our guys had quality wins in the event and it was nice to see Abid win it to start off his senior year.”
Cross country rankings
The University of Idaho men’s and women’s teams each jumped one position in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association West Region rankings this week. The Vandal women jumped to No. 13 while the men are now No. 14 despite neither team fielding their best runners in the first meet of the season. The Clash of the Inland Northwest meet was primarily used as a test meet for the teams’ younger runners.
“It’s kind of surprising to be bumped up without running our full teams yet, but it’s always nice to get recognition like that in such a tough region,” Idaho coach Wayne Phipps said of the ranking.