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Vandal track team gears up for another weekend of competition at home
The University of Idaho track and field team look to improve on strong athletic performances as they compete at the Kibbie Dome for the Vandal Indoor Friday and the McDonald’s Open Saturday.
Those who missed the indoor discus at last week’s home meet will get another chance Friday — a rarity at indoor collegiate meets. The Kibbie Dome is one of only four facilities in the nation spacious enough to hold the event. The meet will begin at 11 a.m.
Elvie Williams will be competing this weekend for the first time with the team. Williams participated at the WSU Open in Pullman three weeks ago as unattached.
“Elvie is one to watch,” said Idaho coach Wayne Phipps. “He does the 60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash, long jump, triple jump and high jump, so he can score a lot of points and be a big part of the team.”
Williams placed fifth in the high jump at the WSU Open with a leap of 6-4.75 feet and also recorded a jump of 23-4 in the long jump, an effort that was good enough for second place behind teammate Kevin Pabst.
Vandal throwers Russ Winger and Matt Wauters will be back in action in the Kibbie Dome this weekend as both athletes had strong performances at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational last weekend.
“The main reason why we’re ranked as high as we are is Russ and Matt,” Phipps said. “The only problem for us indoors is that there aren’t more things to throw, because that’s really where we’re going to score a lot of points and where we have the most depth, top to bottom.”
Winger and Wauters are the premier throwers on the Idaho team, Phipps said. However, people shouldn’t sleep on Idaho’s lesser-known throwers as James Rogan had a breakout 2007 outdoor season qualifying for his first NCAA Regional meet. Beau Whitney also earned All-Western Athletic Conference first team honors with his third-place finish in the discus during the outdoor season.
Paul Dittmer ran a season-best 8.09 to win the 60-meter hurdles at the McDonald’s Collegiate last week and was awarded the WAC men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors along with Winger who had a national best throw of 65-1 1/2.
The award is the first of Dittmers’ career and the fifth of Winger’s.
Both Winger and Dittmer will be in action for Idaho on Friday at the Vandal Indoor and on Saturday at the McDonald’s Open. Both events will be held in the Kibbie Dome. Friday’s meet starts with the discus throw at 11 a.m., while Saturday’s will begin at 9 a.m.
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