POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengal Track and Field team kicked off the 2024 Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday in Bozeman, Montana.
Not only were the Bengals battling against the top T&F athletes in the conference but also mother nature as a winter storm descended on the campus of Montana State. Facing strong winds and deep snow storms, the Bengals persisted and the championships started with the multi's day one events.
"I'm proud of our Multis, it's already a challenge and they gave their best effort today," remarked Director of Track and Field Hillary Merkley. "It was a good learning today and we hope to stay solid tomorrow as well and compete. Montana State was out in full force trying to clear the facility to move forward. Everyone pitched in. Track and field is great that way."
Josie Settle kicked off the day with a win in the 100mH. Settle crossed the line in 14.29 seconds just edging out the runner from Montana by eight one-hundredths of a second.
In the final event of the day for the women, Kaila Mederios earned valuable points with her best finish of the day in the 200m finishing 6th with a time of 26.42 seconds.
The Bengal women finished day one with Settle in fifth place with 2898 points.
Mederios and Kenadee Tracy are both pushing to score points for the Bengals sitting in 10th and 11th place with one more day of events to go.
Adam Jones represented the Orange and Black on the men's side in the decathlon. After a fifth and sevent place finish in the 100m and long jump, Jones came roaring back in the next event, the shotput.
On his first attempt of the day, Jones heaved a winning throw of 12.14m (39-10), out throwing his competition by nearly two meters.
In the next event, the high jump, Jones came in third jumping just below his PR with a height of 1.79 (5-10.5). Jones sits in sixth place headed into tomorrow's final five events.
The Bengals complete the multi-events tomorrow. The general track and field events will begin Friday and continue into Saturday.