| UI track looks to peak |
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| Written by Kayla - DesJarlais | ||||||
| Thursday, 30 April 2009 | ||||||
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 Vandal hurdler, Paul Dittmer, runs through hurdles during practice Thursday afternoon at the Dan O'Brien Track and Field Complex. Dittmer, who was the 2008 Western Athletic Conference 110m Hurdle Champion, will head to Cheney, Wash. with the rest of the team today to compete in the Pelluer Invitaional. Nick Groff/Argonaut
As the Western Athletic Conference Championship nears, the University
of Idaho track and field team looks to continue to improve and approach
peak performances at the Pelluer Invitational hosted by Eastern
Washington University in Cheney, Wash., today. Meet preparation was difficult this week as cool winds and heavy rain forced many runners and jumpers indoors. “It’s too risky this time of year to sprint in the cold,” Teevens said. “Athletes risk injury.” To keep them safe and on schedule, coaches improvised training regiments to ensure their readiness for today’s competition where athletes will enjoy improved conditions. “It should be perfect weather for some good times and marks,” said EWU Sports Information Director Dave Cook. “Especially in light of the fact our track was re-surfaced last summer. Last year four Idaho athletes achieved NCAA Regional qualification, and the team brought home one relay title and seven individual titles. 2008 champions sophomore Paul Dittmer (110-meter hurdles), senior Elvie Williams (long jump) and junior Mike Carpenter (pole vault) will defend their titles today. Williams is likely to deliver as he ranks 19th in the NCAA in the men’s long jump. “I’m just moving up,” Williams said. “I’m putting in all the hard work now to peak at nationals.” Williams’ field contributions are bolstered by the throwing squad as they attempt to increasingly farther marks. Seniors Matt Wauters and Evan Ruud aim to break the 200-foot barrier in the men’s hammer throw, a mark they’ve been just short of all season. Junior Beau Whitney qualified for regionals for the first time last year as a sophomore and is hungry for another opportunity as he pursues the regional mark in the men’s discus event. Tied for No. 6 in the WAC men’s high jump event, freshman Ryan Bowen and junior Jonathan Marler will face tough competition from EWU sophomore Adam Stewart. Bowen and Marler’s must improve their 6-2.75 mark by nearly half a foot if they want to defeat Stewart. Hitting the 16-foot range consistently all season, freshman Jeremy Klas and junior Lucas Pope hope to punch their ticket to regionals by finally clearing the 16 feet, 6.75 inch mark in the men’s pole vault. Klas is among those seeking school glory as his last week 16-1.25 vault moved him to third all-time at Idaho in the event. Fellow freshman Keli Hall and Lauren Schaffer will seek improvement on their personal-best performances in their respective 400-meter (56.86 seconds) and 800-meter (2:11.34) events. Resetting the standard early, Hall and Schaffer’s best efforts respectively place them No. 8 and 9 all-time at Idaho. After today’s meet, the athletes will resume practice in preparation for the WAC Championships. “Usually the intensity (of practice) gets a lot higher and the volume a lot lower.” Teevens said. “The peak phase in our training in the next couple of weeks.”  Add as favorites (75) | Views: 1198
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