Three school records and one conference record were shattered at the Flotrack Husky Classic in Seattle Saturday. One day later, the Vandal track and field team capped off the weekend’s competition with 12 personal bests in the UW Open.
“I thought it was an amazing meet both days,” Idaho Director of Track and Field Wayne Phipps said. “Both meets were amazing meets and amazing competition and I thought our team responded very well and competed very well throughout the whole weekend.”
Sophomore distance runner Hannah Kiser’s 3,000-meter time of 9:07.23 not only broke a school record, but took down the WAC record by a six-second margin. The previous WAC record was 9:13.68 held by Janeth Alder of BYU in 1996. Kiser’s time also broke the NCAA automatic-qualifying time of 9:10.00. Kiser finished in fifth place in her heat.
“We knew (Kiser’s 3,000-meter) was going to be pretty good but she definitely exceeded expectations,” Phipps said. “(Now) she can really focus on having a good conference meet and then two weeks later coming back and peaking and being ready for the (NCAA Indoor Championships).”
Phipps said Kiser ran a conservative race before kicking it in during the final 1,000 meters. There is less pressure on Kiser now that she claimed a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Kiser wasn’t the only record-breaking distance runner last weekend. On the men’s side, junior Barry Britt ran a school record time of 8:07.02 in the 3,000-meter.
“I still think (Britt) can go quite a bit faster,” Phipps said. “I know he was hoping to run maybe under eight minutes, and I think that’s something he can do later on in the year, but breaking the school record and earning the No. 1 time in the WAC is still a great accomplishment.”
Senior Stephane Colle finished right behind Britt in the 3,000-meter with a time of 8:08.31. He passed the old school record of 8:10.96 as well.
Senior Jeremy Klas broke his own school record in the men’s pole-vault clearing 17-9.75 feet (5.43-meters). His vault moved him into the top in the NCAA this year. His old school record was 17-9 (5.41-meters) set last season.
“Every weekend (Klas) does an amazing job in the vault,” Phipps said. “I think it’s just a matter of time before he gets that automatic qualifier (for nationals). Probably with the way he’s vaulting, (his success is) going to continue on not only at the national level but the international level as well.”
Besides the three school records, the Vandals had 12 athletes reach personal bests during the weekend.
“They were really excited about competing in Seattle and I think when you put the excitement level, the opportunity to compete against great competition and the level of preparedness, good things happen,” Phipps said.
The Vandals hope to continue their success when they return home for the Vandal Collegiate in Moscow Feb. 18.
“It’s going to be nice (to be back in Moscow),” Phipps said. “It gives them a little bit of a break before we head of to conference.”