POCATELLO, Idaho – For the second indoor championships meet in a row, Ashley VanVleet-Sturgis and Brianna Hagler stand atop the Big Sky in the women's pentathlon. VanVleet-Sturgis came away with the gold and Hagler the silver.
"Brianna and Ashley have started our team off strong leading into the championships every year with the pentathlon since they have both been here," remarked Director of Track and Field Hillary Merkley. "This weekend was one of the highlights of both of their careers, not their best performance, though it's been the greatest level of difficulty this year. Others don't see what I get to see that goes on behind the scenes for each of these individual athletes. I know the difficulty it is for them to work through so many things that come up in their lives and then repeat at the top of the conference." When you are 1-2 and it's the norm that's crazy! It was just another day at the championships for them. They roll in and do their thing, overcome challenges, stay calm and just lock it in They all did so great! I'm just impressed by them and I have so much love and respect for them!"
After a slow start in the 60mH, the Bengal women turned on the jets. VanVleet Sturgis and Hagler would go on to finish tied for fourth in the high jump at 1.66m.
Bengal newcomer, Kylee Dimick took second place in the high jump section clearing 1.69m (5' 6.5").
"Kylie is a Freshmen learning from some of the best and she snuck in and scored in a really tough competition and she doesn't compete like a freshman," continued Merkley.
Dimick finished the competition in eighth, securing valuable team points for the final team standings.
In the shot put, the Bengal sisters took over the top of the conference standings with a third-place finish for Hagler and a fourth-place grab for VanVleet-Sturgis.
After moving to the top of the standings, the Bengal women didn't let up, flexing their strength in the long jump.
VanVleet-Sturgis won the event, leaping 5.61m (18' 5") on her second and third attempts of the event. Hagler came in just behind with a jump of 5.57 (18' 3.25") to take second In the event.
Headed into the final section of the event, it was up for grabs between the two Bengals at the top of the standings. At the end of 800m, the VanVleet-Sturgis finished seventh and Hagler ninth. While far away from an event win, it was enough to secure the two the points needed to finish on the Big Sky Podium.
VanVleet-Sturgis finished first with 3774 points and Hagler came in just behind at 3740. Regardless of where they finished the two Bengals have secured for themselves a legacy as some of the best multi athletes to come through the doors of Idaho State University.
Men's Heptathlon
The Bengal men completed day one of the men's heptathlon. The meet was highlighted for the Bengals with Michael Shulikov earning a spot in the Bengal record book in the men's high jump.
"The men are chipping away at things and we saw some good things throughout the day," said Merkley. "The highlight today was the high jump competition. Mike Shulikov won that event and was taking attempts at 2.14 meters. These men work hard and are so coachable. We just want to get a little better each time we get out there."
On his first attempt at the height, Shulikov cleared 2.11 (6' 11"). Not only did it earn him a section win in the heptathlon, but also tied him for sixth best all-time in the ISU record book in the event.
Heading into the final day of the event tomorrow, Shulikov is in third place. Keegan Arrington is in 11th, Ethan Garrett sits in 14th and Cade Ricks in 15th.
The men still must compete in the 60mH, the pole vault and the 1000m.
