Idaho track and field is in the Kibbie Dome for the first time this season as Idaho hosts a pair of meets this weekend.
The meets come after a strong showing at the annual WSU Indoor Open last Saturday.
“One area that went well was our throws. The field event athletes did very well and we did have some track athletes compete well, but we did not run very much,” Idaho coach Wayne Phipps said.
Phipps said that his team usually looks at the season opener as a learning experience and a chance to give new athletes the opportunity to compete. Idaho surprised itself with the impressive showing, he said. The Vandals took first in five events and two athletes set new career-best marks.
Junior newcomer Emmanuel Panchol, a jumper who transferred from Ashford University, finished first and second respectively in the triple jump and the high jump. Phipps said that he was very impressed with the first showing from Panchol and is excited to see what potential he has this season.
“Naturally, he’s a very gifted athlete, but he needs to work on some technical stuff,” Phipps said. “He’s showing glimpses of someone who can be a NCAA qualifier for us.”
In the short time Panchol has been at Idaho, he has taken to his trainers and coaches and is progressing as a jumper.
“I feel at home already, I feel safe because of the trainers … they’re good people and the coaches, they take care of us,” Panchol said. “I just hope, if I’m healthy, I can represent Idaho to the best of my ability.”
To bring the best of his ability, Panchol has been working with coach Angela Whyte on his multiple jump events.
“For triple jump, I am not very good when it comes to the landing. I am hoping that I can have that out of the way when the meet comes,” Panchol said.
Another standout from last week who is looking forward to competing at home is senior sprinter Karlene Hurrel. Hurrel placed second in both the 60 and 200-meter dash at WSU’s Indoor Open.
“There is always room for improvement. The first meet is always to see where we are at and improve off that, we got the first meet and jitters out of the way and now it is time to build off that,” Hurrel said. “Since last week I have been working on finishing my race … running through the line and being aggressive off the line and through the race.”
Over the course of the weekend, Idaho will have approximately 1,000 collegiate, post-collegiate and high school athletes competing in the Kibbie Dome, Phipps said.
The first meet on Friday is open to only collegiate and post-collegiate athletes and will be scored and counted toward the NCAA ranking. The second meet is open to area high school athletes as well and is not being counted toward the NCAA rankings.
“We do this for a couple reasons, it gives the local high school athletes a chance to compete and gives the visitors a chance to compete again,” Phipps said. “The second (reason) is it is good practice for our athletes in competing for two consecutive days like they will be in districts.”
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at [email protected]