High winds highlight Mike Keller Invitational
Athletes competing in the Mike Keller Invitational Saturday at the Dan O’Brien Track and Field Complex enjoyed the beginning of outdoor season with sunshine and plenty of fresh air.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Sophomore distance runner Ally Ginther competes in the 3000-meter run during the Mike Keller Invitational Saturday at the Dan O’Brien Track and Field Complex in Moscow. The meet was Idaho’s first outdoor competition of the season.
Perhaps too much fresh air, as winds of up to 40 mph posed additional challenges during the afternoon competition.
With the pole vault being delayed until Sunday due to the extreme weather conditions, Idaho athletes maintained a high level of composure in all other events and walked away from the inaugural event with multiple top-three finishes.
The Vandals competed against athletes from Lewis-Clark State, Gonzaga, Washington State, Spokane Community College and Whitworth over the weekend. Idaho will compete against many of the same teams again next weekend at the in Spokane at the Whitworth Sam Adams Classic.
Idaho coach Tim Cawley said the intense weather was unfortunate, but he and his athletes didn’t attempt to escape the reality of outdoor track season.
“This is spring track — you never know how it’s going to go,” Cawley said. “You get those warm fronts mixing with cold fronts you get these nice windy days. But it’s nice to get a meet in and get things going.”
To start the day, Idaho’s Juan Medina-Cuenca won the shot put with a toss of 48 feet. Later in the day, Medina went on to place third in the men’s discus throwing for a mark of 145-02, edging out sophomore teammate Zac Homer, whose toss of 134-08 earned him a fourth-place finish.
Homer finished among teammates again in the men’s hammer throw with seniors Zach Trumbauer and Al Taylor. The three posted throws of 137-05, 163-02 and 133 respectively, earning sixth, third and seventh place finishes.
Taylor, who set the goal of posting a 50-meter (164 foot) toss in the hammer this season, said he believed his performance left something to be desired.
Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Senior high-jumper Emmanuel Panchol fails to clear the bar during the Mike Keller Invitational Saturday at the Dan O’Brien Track and Field Complex in Moscow.
“Overall, it was just kind of a bad day,” Taylor said. “The weather has just been super off all week. It’s tough without good weather not getting a great chance to prepare. It’s very possible that it affected us. Pretty much everyone was under performing. There weren’t a lot of smiles today.”
The wind may have affected performance, but Cawley said he was impressed with his teams’ response.
“Did it affect some things? Yeah, but I mean I’m happy with everyone’s attitude,” Cawley said. “Everyone is coming out and is excited, not complaining about things and competing as hard as they can.”
The teams’ determination paid off, and the results showed. Senior distance runner Holly Stanton posted first-place finishes in both the women’s 800-meter and 1500-meter races, accentuated by first-place finishes in the women’s 200-meter and 100-meter dashes by sophomore Andrea Pikes.
Women’s throwers had their own taste of success, as sophomore Kolcie Bates placed first in discus and second in the hammer. Sophomore Adara Winder also impressed the field as she posted two third-place finishes in discuss and shot put. Junior thrower Tayler Feinauer also contributed, as she posted a second-place throw in the javelin.
Idaho has one more home meet on the schedule as the team will host the Idaho Twilight May 8 at the Dan O’Brien Track and Field Complex.
Kyle Schumaker can be reached at [email protected]