Mike Marshall, track and field
Marshall, senior, improved on his personal best in the javelin throw Saturday, as his launch of 217-9 (66.39-meters) was good for first place. The throw was 10 feet better than Marshall’s previous best and helped him move to fourth all-time at Idaho. Not to mention that it’s now the longest throw in the WAC, No. 20 in the West Region and No. 39 in the NCAA.
“I really believe that having both of those guys push each other is going to help the intensity of each of them,” said track and field coach Julie Taylor of Marshall and teammate Ugis Svazs, who finished immediately behind Marshall in the event.
Abid Akbar, men’s tennis
In a crucial weekend for the men’s tennis team, Akbar pulled out four match wins, and went undefeated in singles and doubles matches against WAC opponents. In Logan Friday, Akbar and teammate Andrew Dobbs downed Hawaii’s Jared Spiker and Carter Lam 8-3 to help the Vandals sweep the doubles point. Akbar had no trouble at the No. 2 singles spot, defeating the Warriors’ Chas Okamoto 6-2, 6-3 and helping the Vandals come out on top of Hawaii, 4-3. Hours later, Akbar and Dobbs cruised to their second doubles victory of the day, defeating Utah States’ Andrew and Lenny Whiting 8-5. At No. 2 singles, the Aggies’ Marcus Fritz stood no chance against a dominant Akbar, falling to the Idaho junior 6-2, 6-1. Akbar’s efforts helped Idaho sweep its weekend matches, and clinch the No. 2 seed at the upcoming WAC Championship.
“I wanted to finish the regular season strong and I worked hard for it and thankfully I was able to pull it off and help the team,” Akbar said.
Megan Lopez, soccer
Megan Lopez had a large contribution to Idaho’s 5-0 spring season victory against North Idaho College Saturday in Coeur d’Alene, scoring twice in Idaho’s final full field competition of the spring. After scoring just once during the 2011 fall season, Lopez scored her first 10 minutes into the game, eight minutes after junior Chelsea Small opened Idaho’s score sheet.
“Megan scored on a diving header off a great cross from Erica (Hart),” Showler said. “It was just a fantastic finish.”
With eight minutes left in regulation, the San Diego, Calif., native slotted a free kick from 35 yards out into the top corner of the net. The women close their spring campaign this weekend at Gonzaga’s annual 7v7 Tournament. In addition to the Zags, the tournament will feature teams from Eastern Washington, Montana and Walla Walla Community College.