Idaho’s track and field team traveled over to Seattle, Washington Jan. 26- Jan. 27 to compete in the UW Invitational and will now return home for the Idaho Duals. Here is everything you need to know about the trip to Seattle and what is to come for track and field in Moscow.
UW Invitational
A handful of Vandals put up impressive marks while competing with some of the best athletes in the country.
In the long jump, the Vandals had two top-10 finishes. Big Sky leader sophomore jumper Kasin Pendergrass-Anderson finished third overall with a mark of 7.26 meters.
Freshman sprinter and jumper Britt Ipsen posted a season-best leap of 6.93 meters, locking him into ninth place for the weekend.
Sophomore sprinter Ben Doucette took fifth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.18 seconds. Junior sprinter Kaizer Gillispie also took fifth in the 400-meters. Gillispie finished with a time of 48.60 seconds, his fastest time of the season and the second best in conference thus far this season.
In the high jump, sophomore Rechelle Meade finished ninth with a jump of 1.65 meters.
Junior Quinn Mitchell took ninth in the weight throw at 17.54 meters.
In the shotput sophomore Zachary Short took 10th with a throw of 17.18 meters.
Idaho Duals
The track and field squad returns home for the second time this season to compete in the Idaho Duals on Feb. 2 in the Kibbie Dome.
Idaho Director of Track and Field/Cross-Country Tim Cawley said the team will focus on competing and getting into the team grove.
“This one will be a lot about competing,” Cawley said. “The nice thing about this week is we will have, there is five teams competing, including us, so you get to see your competition, including us, you see the kind of team scores, you get an idea of who you are competing against.”
Cawley said this style of competition will give the team a sense of confidence in preparation for Big Sky competition.
“It is kind of a mini conference idea where you are competing as a team and you just get a feel for that, so that is the big thing I am looking for. It is obviously another opportunity for us to get some national marks and get some people up in the top-eight in conference that are just outside but I think that will come if we are out competing trying to do some good things,” Cawley said.
Idaho now returns to the Kibbie Dome for the second of three home meets throughout the indoor and outdoor track and field season. Cawley said this can serve as a competitive edge for the athletes as it keeps them in their comfort zone and gives them a larger supporting crowd that can fuel them along.
“The good part of it is you’ve got a comfort, everyone’s got a comfort zone built in here,” Cawley said. “Your professor comes over and watches you, your roommates, some of your best friends in the area, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, you know what I mean? You get some just people right there around you that know you can go in there and compete in front of which is always nice to have that little extra incentive but you also get to sleep in your own bed and do your same routine. There is just a little more comfort being at home because you are just familiar with it.”
The home competition takes place Feb. 2 in the Kibbie Dome.
Marisa Lloyd and Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected]