The Vandal track and field team hit the ground running at the Sam Adams Invitational in the opening meet of the 2017 outdoor season.
Sophomore Kaleala Bass was one of only a handful of Vandals to claim first place. Bass won the 400-meter race in 58.16 seconds to set a new personal record and the eighth fastest time in the Big Sky thus far.
Sophomore Erin Hagen also grabbed the victory in the 800-meter race in 2:16.89.
The men had equal success in the middle-distance events. Idaho men dominated the 400-meter race, grabbing first and then third through fifth. Sophomore Kaizer Gillispie won the 400 meters in 47.83 seconds to set a new personal record. This race also lands him the second fastest time in the conference so far this season. Senior Ian Middleton finished right behind in third with a time of 50.26 seconds. Freshman Dean Ellenwood followed behind in 50.46 seconds. Senior Blake Gerling rounded out the field in fifth with a time of 50.81 seconds.
The 400-meter hurdles brought equal success for the men. Freshman Mack Baxter sealed the win with a time of 53.59 seconds, followed in second by sophomore Zion Stuffle in 54.23. These times put them at second and third in the conference, respectively.
The strong performances carried over into the long distance events for the women. Freshman Krista Story took first in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:39.05. Sophomore Andrea Condie grabbed fourth with a personal record of 4:45.94, followed by senior Halie Raudenbush in fifth with 4:47.19.
The 4×100-meter relay proved to be a strong event for the Vandals, with both men and women claiming the victory. Freshman Rechelle Meade, Maddy Dustin and Jordyn Rauer and Junior Nicole Carter won in 49.22 seconds. Freshmen Kasin Pendergrass-Anderson, Ben Doucette, senior Drew Thompson and Gillispie earned the victory on the men’s side with a 42.33
Carter finished first in the 100-meter dash in 12.71 seconds and set a new personal record. Dustin finished in fifth with 13.12 in the 100 meters as well as a second-place finish in the 200-meter race with a time of 26.24 seconds. Freshman Kaylee Hove followed close behind in third with 26.29.
Middleton also had a strong performance in the 200 meters for the men, grabbing a third place finish in 22.59 seconds.
Doucette carried his indoor hurdle success over to the outdoor season with a second place finish in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.74 seconds. Stuffle followed with a new personal record and a fourth place finish in 15.29 seconds.
The Idaho women picked up second through fourth place in the long jump, led by Meade with a leap of 5.06 meters followed by Rauer in 4.96 meters. Sophomore Reed Richardson rounded out the group in fourth with a 4.88-meter jump. She also took second in the triple jump in 10.85 meters.
Rauer followed in third in the triple jump with a 10.61-meter leap. Sophomore Lauren Curlanis grabbed fourth in the triple jump in 10.10 meters.
The Vandals field event success continued with a third place finish in the pole vault from sophomore Cecilia Watkins with a vault of 3.20 meters.
Junior Kolcie Bates grabbed third in shotput with a toss of 12.25 meters and fourth in discus with a throw of 38.18 meters.
Sophomore Matthew Bauman also had a good day in the discus, finishing second with a throw of 41.96 meters.
Freshman Jonny Magee took second in the triple jump with a leap of 13.94 meters.
Pendergrass-Anderson came out on top in the long jump with a leap of 7.07 meters.
Idaho moves forward to the Al Manuel Invitational Saturday in Missoula, Montana.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected]