The Idaho track and field squad moved along the coast of California to compete in a series of meets, sending parts of the squad to separate events.
Bryan Clay Invitational, April 13 to April 14
Several Vandals found success in the distance events, led by senior Nathan Stark in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Stark ran the seventh fastest time in the event in Idaho history and became the third athlete this season in conference to break nine minutes with a time of 8:56.54.
Senior Halie Raudenbush also found success in the event with an 11:00.47 finish to move up the conference rankings and into the Big Sky Conference top-10.
Sophomore Andrea Condie set a new personal record and top-five Big Sky Conference performance with a 16:54.48 finish in the 5k. She now has the ninth fastest time in program history.
The Beach Pacific Coast Intercollegiate, April 13
The Idaho men put up a strong performance at the Beach Pacific Coast Intercollegiate with a fourth place finish with 45 points. The women finished 12th with a total of 18.5 points.
Freshman Mack Baxter met his season personal best with a win in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 52.82 seconds. Sophomore Zion Stuffle followed close behind in second in 52.84 seconds.
Junior Meghan Palesch and Senior Wednesday Walton had strong performances in the 400-meter hurdles. Palesch finished in sixth place in 1:04.16 while Walton was close behind in eight with a time of 1:04.68.
The 400-meter hurdle success carried over for sophomore Kaizer Gillispie in the 400-meter race. Gillispie took third in the event with a time of 48.28 seconds.
Idaho continued to show strength in the middle distance events with the 800-meter race. Senior Marquita Palmer set a season-best with a time of 2:13.81. Sophomore Kaleala Bass also set a new personal record in the event with a finish of 2:14.40.
Senior Blake Gerling also set a personal record in the event and moved into the top-5 in conference with a time of 1:51.99.
Freshman Krista Story ran the ninth fastest time in Idaho history in the 1500-meter race and moved up into the top-five in the Big Sky with a time of 4:30.76. Freshman Emily Wesseling set a new personal record in the event with a time of 4:38.38.
In the sprints, freshman Ben Doucette took fifth place in the 110 hurdle race with a time of 14.42 seconds.
A handful of Vandals showed their strength in the field events. Freshman Austin Beyer grabbed a fourth place finish in the javelin throw with a throw of 56.22 meters. Freshman Zachary short took eighth in the shot put with a toss of 16.91 meters.
Senior Katelyn Peterson finished tied for sixth place in high jump with a jump of 1.67 meters.
The triple jump was a success for a number of Idaho athletes. Sophomore Reed Richardson finished on top for the Vandals with a fourth place mark with a leap of 10.84 meters. Sophomore Lauren Curlanis was not far off with a sixth place finish in 10.35 meters.
On the men’s side, freshman Kasin Pendergrass-Anderson met his season record in the triple jump with a hop of 14.63 meters to take third place. His teammate freshman Jonny Magee also set a new personal record with a jump of 14.60 meters to finish fourth.
Beach Track and Field Invitational, April 14 to April 15
In the distance events, senior Valerie Mitchell won the 10k and moved into the top-10 in conference with a time of 37:16.58. Freshman Dwain Stucker came in second in the event with a time of 31:36.64.
Stuffle competed in the 400-meter hurdles where he finished in 53.21 seconds. On the women’s side, Walton finished the 400-meter hurdle race in 1:02.83 while Palesch ran a season best in 1:02.92.
In the sprinting events, Gillispie put up his fastest 200-meter time and moved into 10th in conference with a time of 21.66 seconds. Doucette finished fifth in the 110 hurdle race with a time of 14.44 seconds.
Raudenbush set a personal best in the 1500 meters with a finish of 4:37.73. Stark was another distance athlete to post a personal record with a finish in 3:51.90.
Junior Kolcie Bates lead the way in the field events with a season personal record in the discus with a 45.45 meter throw.
Idaho moves on to the Spokane Memorial April 22 in Spokane.
Meredith Spelbring can be reached at [email protected]