Flagstaff, AZ – The final day of the Big Sky Indoor Championships was filled with season-best performances, historic milestones, and All-Conference honors as the Bengals closed out the meet with strong individual showings. The women's team finished 5th overall with 47 points, while the men's team took 9th with 31 points.
Dimick Leads the Way in the High Jump
Kylee Dimick wrapped up her championship weekend with another podium finish, clearing 1.77m (5'09.75") for 2nd place and All-Conference honors, earning 8 points for the team.
Audrey Sampsen also delivered a personal best (1.71m | 5'07.25"), finishing 7th and adding 2 more points to the total.
Head Coach
Hillary Merkley praised the team's resilience, saying,
"The women's team did a great job responding and showing up today."
Historic Day for Women's Shot Put
The women's shot put squad made history, placing four athletes in the top six—a first under Coach Merkley's leadership:
- Megan Moore – 14.31m (46'11.50"), 4th place, PR, now 3rd all-time in school history (5 points earned).
- Katelyn Dickemore – 13.88m (45'06.50"), 5th place, PR, now 8th all-time in school history (4 points earned).
- Laura Young – 13.72m (45'00.25"), 6th place, PR, now 10th all-time in school history (3 points earned).
Reflecting on this feat, Merkley said,
"The Bengal Women's Shot Put had four scorers. That has never happened since I have been here!"
Wadley Earns All-Conference in Men's Shot Put
On the men's side,
Jay Wadley delivered a massive PR of 17.44m (57'02.75") to finish 3rd, securing All-Conference honors and moving up to 5th all-time in school history (6 points earned).
Ryan Spaeth also hit a personal best (16.82m | 55'02.25"), finishing 7th and contributing 2 points.
Hurdlers Deliver in Finals
- Alex Conner matched his PR (8.06 seconds) in the men's 60m hurdles, placing 5th and moving up to 4th all-time in school history (4 points earned).
- Anise Becker tied her PR (8.69 seconds) in the women's 60m hurdles, also taking 5th place (4 points earned).
Speaking on Conner's performance, Merkley emphasized his growth, saying,
"He stepped up in a big way, and he's just getting started in the hurdles."
Relays & Pole Vault Wrap Up the Meet
The women's 4x400m relay team of
Gracee Alders,
Hailey Renzello,
Jinettie Garbett, and
Anise Becker posted a PR (3:49.09), placing 7th and climbing to 7th all-time in program history (2 points earned).
In the men's pole vault,
Maddix Blazovich cleared 4.84m (15'10.50") to take 7th place (2 points), while
Ekhardt Van Der Watt finished 8th with a 4.74m (15'06.50") clearance (1 point).
Final Team Standings
- Women's Team: 5th place – 47 points
- Men's Team: 9th place – 31 points
While acknowledging the men's team didn't have the weekend they hoped for, Merkley expressed confidence in their future:
"On the men's side, we are a better team than we showed this weekend. I believe in these men and their ability to learn, improve, and be better. We are going to reflect and make the adjustments we need to make."
Looking Ahead
With PRs, school record improvements, and multiple All-Conference performances, the Bengals set the stage for bigger things ahead. As the team reflects on this championship, the focus now shifts toward outdoor season, where they'll look to build on their growth and momentum.
