After a very successful previous weekend at the Lauren McClusky Memorial, where the Idaho Vandals track and field team won a combined 16 events, the team took their talents on the road to compete at the Inland Northwest Invitational in Spokane, Washington, on Saturday, Jan. 31. At this event, the Vandals continued their dominance and won 10 combined events, while also achieving many personal records as well.
Track
The Vandals track team finished the day with five wins and got their first taste of success of the day in the women’s 60-meter finals, as junior Jana Williams PR’ed with a 7.45 second time, good enough for the gold. Sophomore Keenan Kuntz added on to the success by finishing first in the men’s 60 meters with a time of 6.71 seconds. The women commanded the 400 meters, as the top three finishers all came from Idaho. Junior Rhyan Madden achieved first with a PR 55.08 second time.
Coming in second was fellow junior Blossom Omogor with a 55.65 second time. And finally, in third was freshman Makenna Ritter, who finished with a time of 56.40 seconds. Madden almost won the 200 meter with a PR, 24.26 seconds, but instead Eastern Washington junior Judith Kounedzina took gold with a 23.96 second time, making her the no.umber 62 best time in the entire NCAA.
The Vandals’ last successful event came in the men’s 200 meters, as Kuntz won it all with a personal record time of 21.21 seconds. This time is the no. 55th best in the NCAA. Freshman Mateo Ganje finished second with a season best 21.74 seconds.
Field
The Vandals field team also won a combined five events as well. Their first was in the women’s weight throw, as sSenior Beatriz Marciano won it all with a 17.50 meter throw, while fellow Vandal Freshman Kathryn Burnette took silver with a 16.76 meter throw. In the men’s shot put, junior Gioele Tengattini stood alone and won gold with a 17.26 meter throw. The women ruled the long jump as senior Sydnie Zywinatook first with a 5.60 meter jump.
Sophomore Mara Fuerniss took second with a 5.55 meter throw, and fellow sophomore Jada Miller brought home the bronze with a 5.40 meter throw. Just like the women, the men finished in the top two in the weight throw as junior Caden Hottman finished first with a season best 18.74-meter throw, while sophomore Mason Andulajevic was right behind him, finishing the day with a 18.29-meter throw.
Beatriz Marciano almost won the women’s shot put with a 14.31-meter throw, but Whitman junior Madison Carr took gold with a personal best 14.40-meter throw, making her throw the best in the entire division three league. The Vandals’ last winning event was the women’s high jump, where sophomore Cami Cvitkovich won it all with a 11.67-meter jump.
Overall, the Vandals continued to prove their consistency at the Inland Northwest Invitational, combining many event wins with personal best performances throughout the day. With momentum building early in the season, the Vandals look poised for continued success as they move forward in the season.
The Vandals next track and field meet will be the Idaho Team Challenge at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Friday, Feb. 6.