The University of Idaho Argonaut

The University of Idaho track and field team competed in Pullman for the second straight week and had another strong showing in the second meet of the year

Vandal long jumper Kevin Pabst won the event with a mark of 23-4 1/2. Pabst, who scratched his first two attempts, took a shortened, safer approach to ensure his entry into the finals where he defeated the closest competitor, Utah State’s Blake Hadfield, by 14 inches.

Distance runners Steve Potratz and Melissa McFaddan debuted by both setting personal bests. Potratz finished 10th in the mile with a time of 4:29.5 and McFaddan placed fourth in the women’s 3,000 meters with a time of 10:29.03.
Freshman Alice Draser led the pack in the pentathalon where Vandal athletes took the first four places. Draser scored 3,388 points in her winning effort, while sophomores Darcy Collins and Lindsey Goodman placed second and fourth respectively and senior Molly Burt came in third with 3,247 points.

Sophomore Mike Carpenter won the pole vault competition with a mark of 15-11 to win the event by six inches over Washington State’s DJ Brown. The jump was the best in the Western Athletic Conference so far this season. Carpenter also clocked a 7.10 in the 60 meters, an effort which earned him fourth place in the event.

Mykael Bothum won the women’s shot put for the second weekend in a row throwing 48-2 1/2, which beat the nearest competitor by a comfortable 18-inch margin. Bothum, who won the WAC Field Athlete of the Week honors last week, narrowly missed the NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Bothum’s third throw went well over 50 feet, but she couldn’t maintain her balance and scratched.

Freshman Paul Dittmer gave another strong effort in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. A week after running a conference best 8.15 in the event, he ran the second best conference time with a 8.19 conference mark.
“Paul Dittmer is new to us and we’ve only had a couple practices with him so far, but he’s definitely the real deal,” said Idaho coach Wayne Phipps.

Junior Heather Bergland ran a WAC best 8.68 in the 60 hurdles. Bergland’s effort was good enough to take fourth in the event overall, and second among collegiate runners. Junior Christie Gordon also recorded a personal best in the event, finishing in 8.85 and placing sixth.

“I feel really good,” Phipps said. “We’re in a position where we have people who can score in every event, from the 60 through the 5k and in the relays. I don’t think there will be any surprises. The guys who we have coming back are all going to do well.”
The entire team has not yet competed this season. Most of the team is expected to be in uniform next week for the McDonald’s Collegiate Feb. 1-2. The event will be held at the Kibbie Dome.