The culmination of the short-lived yet successful indoor track and field season is coming to an end with the start of the WAC Indoor Championships.
Parker Wilson | Argonaut
Junior Zach Trumbauer heaves a toss in the weight throw on Thursday at the WAC Indoor Track and Field Championship in the Kibbie Dome.
Through two days of competition, the Idaho men and women each sat at second place. The men’s team was tied for second with Utah Valley at 50 points while Grand Canyon led with 66.50. The women’s team had 53 behind Missouri-Kansas City’s 57.
The championships’ three-day tournament started Wednesday with the men’s and women’s heptathlon and pentathlon multi-events. The meet concludes Friday.
Idaho had four athletes competing in the multi-events with three of them earning team points — two men in the heptathlon and one woman in the pentathlon. Idaho’s Colin Briggs placed second in heptathlon followed by teammate Drew Thompson. Tyler Bennett finished seventh for Idaho.
“Tyler (Bennett) had a great day, as well as Colin (Briggs) … and Drew (Thompson) is coming up with some really big performances.” Idaho coach Wayne Phipps said. “I am really happy with the way we are in the first day and our second day is going to be even better.”
Freshman Taylor Sheppard, competing in her only collegiate multi-event, placed eighth — earning Idaho one team point and freshman Wednesday Walton placed 13th.
“I was really pleased with both of their performances. Wednesday (Walton) has never done a pentathlon before today … I think she has a ton of potential in the event,” Phipps said. “This was Taylor’s (Sheppard) second pentathlon and for her to score as a true freshman in her first conference meet is just fantastic.”
Last week during Idaho’s meet at Washington State, Phipps said his teams’ overall placement is going to rely heavily on their performance on Thursday for the preliminary rounds on Friday. He said that it was important to get as many competitors in the events Friday to score as many team points as possible.
Phipps’ wish came true as Idaho consistently scored high marks and finished well throughout the day –from the starting field events through the distance runners. Idaho won seven individual heats Thursday.
Idaho started off the preliminary round well getting a first-place finish in the opening event, the men’s weight throw. Idaho senior Kyle Rothwell placed first in the event followed by teammate Zach Trumbauer in fourth. The pair has consistently finished in the top positions in many meets this season.
The women’s throwers also finished strong, earning a first- and second-place finish in the second flight of the women’s shot put. Adara Winder won her flight and placed second in the event followed by Ana Pardo in fifth.
Events start 10:30 a.m Friday with the remaining field event finals. Running finals will start at 12:30 p.m. with the women’s mile and will finish up the men’s 4×400-meter relay at 3:45 p.m.
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at [email protected]