POCATELLO, Idaho – Dealing with winter weather adversity, the Bengal track and field team didn't let it slow them down, wrapping up a solid showing at the 2023 Utah/Weber State Spring Classic.
The Bengals competed against athletes from Utah, Utah State, Weber State, Southern Utah, and Westminster.
"It wasn't the easiest week and cancelations aren't how you want to start the season," said Director of Track and Field Hillary Merkley. "It was nice to get the first one in and the sun came out for us as we had a couple of good performances."
The day started with a Bengal victory in the first field event of the day, the women's pole vault. After starting at the 3.50m mark, Elliotte Stockham cleared three consecutive height raises to bring home the win at 3.65m (12-5.5).
Bengal Freshman Brielle Davis came in fourth clearing 3.50m (11-5.75) setting a new personal best in the outdoor vault.
On the men's side, Cade Ricks took at top-six finish with a jump of 4.65m (15-9).
The Bengal wins kept coming in the women's high jump, Kylee Dimick beat out a field of 17 other jumpers tying her personal best outdoor height of 1.75m (5-8.75).
Kapri Sylvester followed in fourth with a jump of 1.65m (5-5). On the men's side Michael Shulikov came in sixth with a jump of 2.08m (6-9.75) followed closely by Owen Mitchell at 2.03m (6-8).
In her first NCAA outdoor triple jump, Natallia Alvarez Trujillo finished 3rd with a mark of 11.30m (37-1)
Bengal freshman Gavin Pollock brought home a top-10 finish in his first outdoor 1500 crossing the line in 3:58.32.
Continuing off of her strong indoor season, Bengal Hurdler Kyndal Martin brought home the silver medal in the women's 100mH. The Bengal crossed the line in 14.01 seconds, the best mark in the Big Sky Conference so far this season. Martin then came back in the 400mH finishing 7th in 1:02.22
Coming back from the high jump, Michael Shulikov ran in the men's 110mH, crossing the line in a personal best 15.28-second fifth-place finish.
Presley Timmons notched another podium finish this weekend. Competing against 20 other runners, the Bengal crossed the line third in the 800m with a time of 2:21.20.
After winning the high jump, Kylee Dimick came back to race the 200m. The Bengal finished 6th out of 38 with a personal best run of 26.10 seconds.
Bengal Freshman Khutisa Rampete earned a second-place podium finish In the men's 200 with a time of 22.13 seconds, 12th fastest in the Big Sky so far this season.
The meet in Salt Lake finished up with the 4x400 relays. The Bengal women 'A' team of Kylee Dimick, Kaila Mederios, Presley Timmons and Kyndal Martin finished fourth with a time of 3:54.23.
Throwing Events
Due to continued winter weather conditions the throwing events were moved to Idaho State's campus in Pocatello. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Bengal track and field staff and student-athletes, the fields in Pocatello were able to be cleared and the Throwing events on Saturday took place.
The day started with the men's hammer throw competition.
On his final throw of the day, Axel Tirado-Sanchez launched his throw 53.24m (174-8), the ninth furthest in ISU history to take the win.
Sergio Garcia came in third, smashing his personal best with a throw of 52.68m nearly five meters past his previous personal best.
Destinee Rose-Haas set the tone for the conference in the women's hammer throw. On her third throw of the day Rose-Hass threw the 2nd best hammer in Idaho State Bengal history 58.82m (192-11) winning the event and taking first-place in the conference standings by nearly 3m.
Continuing the great Bengal performances in the hammer, Sarah Wilensky moved up to 4th best all-time in Bengal history with a new personal best throw of 54.57.
Rachael Dyck smashed her PR to finish 5th with the 9th best throw in ISU history of 50.81m
Zack Ramos picked up the first of two wins in the men's discus. Ramos threw 50.43m 165-5 to beat out the field of competitors and take the win. The throw is the 5th best in the conference this season.
Coming off of his first win, Ramos came back again in the men's shot put. On his fourth throw of the day, Ramos threw a distance of 17.72m (58-1.75) to take the victory.
Bengal Sophmore Ryan Spaeth earned a third-place podium finish with a personal best throw of 16.35m (53-7.75).
After winning the hammer throw, Rose-Haas didn't slow down coming back to throw in the women's discus. On her fifth throw of the day, the Bengal entered the ISU record book once again throwing the 3rd best mark in team history, 48.50m (159-1), finishing in third place.
Next week, The Bengals travel to the west coast to take part in the Long Beach Invite and the Bryan Clay Invite.
