POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State track and field took a final opportunity to face off against Big Sky competition at the MSU Performance meet. The Bengals next head to the 2023 Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Hillary Merkley shared some thoughts at the conclusion of the meet Friday evening.
"Our Last meet of the regular season was overall a good meet," remarked Merkley. "The teams had a lot of good improvements this weekend and it was good to see consistency in most of the performances. Progress is not always a steady climb but we chipped away at it. We had a lot of improvements and that's where we wanted to be this weekend.
Destinee Rose-Haas is undefeated and extended her throw leading the conference in the weight. Kyndal Martin really had a great meet and made top 10 list in the 60m, won the hurdles and ran an incredible split in the 4x4. Those ladies have been dialed in all year.
On the men's side, leading a strong group of men is the trio of Ramos, Shulikov and Tirado-Sanchez. Zack Ramos was on point and again had big throws in the Shotput . Axel and Mike are young in age but not in competitiveness. We are excited to head to Moscow in a couple of weeks! "
In the track events, Kyndal Martin continues to get better each week. In the 60m dash, the Bengal speedster ran a blazing time of 7.75 seconds, fourth fastest in ISU history and would place her in the top-10 Big Sky sprinters this season.
Martin came back to compete in the 60mH. Once again, Martin stood atop the podium running a personal best time of 8.55 seconds in the event. Moving her up to 3rd all-time in the ISU record book.
On the men's side, Bengal freshman Khutsisa Rampete moved up the record list to ninth all-time in the 60m with a personal best run of 6.96 seconds.
In the high jump, the Bengal men swept the podium for the 2nd time this season. Michael Shulikov led the team with the winning height of 2.10m (6-10.75). He was followed by Ethan Garrett taking 2nd and Owen Mitchell coming in third.16
Ekhardt Van Der Watt took third in the men's pole vault with a personal best mark of 4.90m (16-00.75). On the women's side, Brielle Davis took third with a height of 3.83m (12-6.75).
Tirado Sanchez then came back to finish second in the weight throw with a mark of 17.67m (57-11.75).
For the first time this season, Destinee Rose-Haas passed the 20m mark in the women's weight throw. On her final throw of the day, Rose-Haas launched her weight 20.23m (66-4.5) that mark moves her up to 32nd in the NCAA.
Sarah Wilensky continues to improve each week in the women's weight throw. Following just behind Rose-Haas, Wilensky broke her PR yet again with a throw of 18.08m (59-4).
Next up is everything that the Bengals have worked towards this indoor season, the 2023 Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meet will be held in Moscow, Idaho at the University of Idaho Feb. 23-25.
