Bengal Track and Field Excites in Winter Open, Provides Hype for Indoor Season

Full Results

Pocatello, ID - Idaho State Track and Field is back, and the excitement couldn't be higher.

Just hours after the Big Sky Conference announced the preseason polls for the indoor slate, the Bengals showed that they are going to be a force in the west. ISU played host to the first of four indoor meets set to take place in the ICCU Dome. The first-ever Winter Open on campus was a chance for the squads to show their stuff before the semester and holiday break.

The day began at 11:00 AM on the dot, evidenced by the boom of weights on turf ringing out through the venue. The Bengal men began the day with the throws, and immediately made their presence felt. School record holder Axel-Tirado Sanchez led the way for Idaho State with a heave of 18.61m (61'0.75") on the day. The mark was just shy of Axel's personal best 19.09m (62'7.75), one of his two school records. 

Tirado-Sanchez took home first place in the shot put with a top throw of 16.72m (54'10.25"). The Bengals took each of the top six placements with Ryan Spaeth (15.54m/51'), Jay Wadley (14.99m/49'2.25"), Andrew Burrows (14.32m/46'11.75"), Chris Lupkes Jr. (13.70m/44'11.5), and James Kersey (13.57m/44'6.25") rounding out the highlights.

Over in the jumps, Cam Davis made a big impact in his first career collegiate meet. Making his Bengal debut, the freshman recorded a second overall finish in the long jump with a mark of 6.86m (22'6.25") and took home the top spot in the triple jump, measured at 13.89m (45'7"). Fellow newcomer Kaiden Lee was nearly in stride with Davis, recording a 13.83m (45'4.5") in the triple.

The freshmen made waves for the men's team in the jumps, as Jackson Wilkey and Lee led the way in the high jump, each finishing with a mark of 1.93m (6'4") for fourth and fifth place. 

Moving over to the track, it was a big day for the Bengal men. If you blinked, you might've missed Zachary Cox blazing the trail in the 60m Hurdles. The senior's time of 7.96 seconds was the only sub-eight second mark in the event and was at least a full stride ahead of second place's 8.26.

Once the hurdles came down, it was time for Khutsisa Rampete to shine. Shine he did, as the junior took home second place in the 60m, clocked at 6.91 seconds. Rampete also finished second in the 200m with a time of 21.71.

The men's pole vaulters had big highlights for ISU, led by a career day for senior Cade Ricks, who earned the best mark of the day with a personal best 5.05m (16'6.75"), done on his second attempt. Freshman Maddix Blazovich was the second-place finisher, reaching 4.90m (16'0.75") in his Bengal debut.

Not to be outshined, the ISU women showed why they deserved the third-place ranking in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls. The highlights began right away on the track. Sophomore Josie Settle built off of an unprecedented freshman campaign by recording a PR of 8.74 seconds in the 60m Hurdles. Running stride for stride with Settle was standout freshman Anise Becker, who finished with the same 8.74 seconds in her first collegiate race. Settle and Becker now sit tied for sixth all-time in school history in the event. 

Becker continued a strong debut into the 200m, where she was ISU's top finisher and third overall clocked at 25.81 seconds. Freshman Gracee Alders and senior Sage Wood crossed the finish line fourth and fifth at 26.09 and 26.12 seconds, respectively.

The women's jump squad rose to the occasion on Friday, with Bengals earning first place in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump. Scarlet Arredondo Sosa flew to a 5.28m (17'4") in the long jump, senior Kylee Dimick recorded a 1.70m (5'7") in her return to the high jump, and freshman Izzie Stockham earned a 10.55m (34'7.5") in the triple.

The throwers also made a statement in the first meet of the year. Sophomore Megan Moore earned her way into school history with a weight throw of 17.40m (57'1"), the fifth-best in school history. She was joined on the list by senior Kait Ward, whose mark of 16.68m (54'8.75") places her at tenth-best. Freshman Isabella Shelton finished in third place behind Moore and Ward with an impressive 15.29m (50'2") in her first career meet.

Ellie Stockham had a strong start to her senior season in the pole vault, finishing with a meet-high mark of 3.90m (12'9.5"). Stockham currently holds the fifth-best indoor mark in school history at 3.98m (13'0.75").

The Bengals made a strong debut to the 2024-25 indoor season at one of the first meets in the  country. They will take some time to rest and recuperate over
the holiday break before returning to action in the second home meet of the season, the Snake River Open on January 16-17.