The University of Idaho Track and Field program reported on May 2 that several athletes achieved season-best performances at the Desert Heat Classic, as the team prepares for the upcoming Big Sky Championship.
These results are important for the Vandals as they look to build momentum heading into one of their most significant competitions of the year. The team’s progress is highlighted by improved marks in both individual and relay events.
A sophomore athlete, who was recently named “The Vandal” at UI Athletics’ annual Vandie Awards for her achievements during the indoor season, recorded a long jump of 6.08 meters. This mark is now ranked second in the Big Sky Conference this season and places within the top 100 nationally. Later that day, after a two-hour break, she ran a personal best of 13.79 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles—two tenths faster than her previous record set at April’s Bryan Clay Classic.
Another athlete shaved nearly seven tenths off her previous best in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.38, ranking seventh fastest in conference standings. In addition, a freshman runner posted a collegiate-best time of 55.27 seconds in the 400 meters to secure a spot among the top-15 times this year within Big Sky competition.
Idaho also participated at Oregon State’s High Performance meet over two days in Corvallis. After competing last week at Washington State’s Cougar Classic, an athlete achieved a major personal record by finishing the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:22.35 minutes. Another member cut more than twenty seconds from his own best with a new time of 15:12.02 minutes in the men’s five-kilometer race; meanwhile, another runner improved his personal record by over one and half seconds with a finish of 4:25.82 minutes in the men’s fifteen-hundred meter event.
Looking ahead, Idaho will close its outdoor regular season next week at Whitworth Last Chance Meet scheduled for Wednesday, May 6.
