The University of Idaho announced on May 12 that its track and field teams are set to compete at the 2026 Big Sky Outdoor Track and Field Championship this week. The event will begin with multis on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by main competitions on Friday and Saturday. All four days will be available for viewing on ESPN+, with live results posted on AthleticLive.
The upcoming championship is significant as it brings together top athletes from the conference after a season marked by weekly awards and record-breaking performances for Idaho. Both men’s and women’s teams have shown strong form throughout the outdoor season, entering several events with contenders poised to score high points.
“Both teams are very excited to compete this week at the Big Sky Outdoor Championship,” Director of Track and Field said in the buildup to this week’s meet. “All year, our athletes have worked hard to put themselves in a great position to perform their best, while helping the team succeed. The coaching staff is very optimistic about our team’s success this weekend. Our multi girls will get things started for us right away on Wednesday, and we hope to carry that momentum all the way to the finals on Saturday. The Big Sky is a very competitive conference, so this weekend will be a great challenge for our athletes, but we are ready to give our best effort of the year.”
Idaho’s heptathlon representatives include reigning indoor pentathlon champion Tait alongside graduate student Belén García Arias. Tait recently achieved one of the highest scores in conference history during February’s indoor meet, maintaining top-20 rankings across multiple events throughout spring competition.
In field events scheduled for Friday morning, Idaho has medal contenders in both javelin throws as well as high jump competitions among men’s and women’s squads. Notably, one senior athlete set a facility record last week with a throw ranking second all-time at Idaho.
Looking ahead beyond Portland’s championship weekend, qualifying Vandals await results nationwide that may secure them entry into NCAA West First Round competition in Fayetteville.
