Track and field host WAC tourney

Forest Braden and Mattias Jons will be out to defend their 2005 individual titles, and the rest of the Boise State University track and field teams will join them in competition, which began last night, and will continue through Saturday at the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The four-day event is held on the Jacksons Track at the Idaho Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.

A senior from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Braden is the defending indoor champion in the 5,000-meter run and is the favorite to win his second straight title in the event on Friday at 7:20 p.m.

Braden set the Boise State record in the event earlier this month on Feb. 11 when he ran a NCAA automatic qualifying time of 13 minutes, 47.73 seconds. His mark is the ninth fastest collegiate time this year.  Braden will also be trying to win his second WAC title in the mile run.  Braden won the event as a sophomore in 2004 and has the league’s top time this year at 4:07.10. Braden will try to go for a hat trick this week as he also competes in the 3,000-meter run. He has the league’s top time with a Bronco record 7:58.08.

Jons, a senior from Bjuraker, Sweden, will defend his 2005 title in the 35-pound weight throw.  The school record holder in the event at 72 feet, 4.50 inches, Jons is also the favorite to win the event.  He currently has the fourth best collegiate throw

this season. 

The weight throw is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. Jons will also compete in the shot put at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.  His top mark this season is 53-7.00 which ranks third.

Another former league champion will also be competing for the Broncos as Keron Francis goes for his third long jump title. Francis won the 2004 indoor and outdoor long jump titles before red-shirting the 2005 season. He has the conference’s top mark this season at 24-10 which is also a NCAA provisional qualifying mark. The long jump is at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Several other Bronco men also enter the meet with the league’s top marks.  Antoine Echols has the top times in the 200 and 400-meter dashes at 21.28 and 48.25, respectively, while freshman Aione Key has the top high jump mark in the WAC at 6-11.50. Boise State also has the league’s top times in the 4×400-meter and distance medley relays.

While none of the Bronco women are currently leading an event, several have marks in the top five of their events.  Freshman Eleni Kafourou has the second best marks in the long and triple jumps at 19-11.50 and 41-0.25. Her triple jump is the second best in Boise State history.

Jackieann Morian and Robin Nixon also have the league’s second best marks in their respective events.  Morian time in the 400-meter dash is 55.22, while Nixon has the second fastest time in the 3,000-meter run at 10:13.20.  Nixon’s teammate, freshman Breanne Sande, has the fourth best time at 3,000 meters with a 10:17.01 clocking.

Rebecca Guyette has the league’s third best time in the mile run at 4:50.61, and Kristin Brogdan has the third best high jump this year in the WAC at 5-6.

The Bronco women also have the second best times this year in both relays posting times of 3:47.66 in the 4×400-meter relay and 12:28.39 in the distance medley relay.

Competition begins on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. with the men’s heptathlon.  The heptathlon finishes up on Thursday at the same time the women compete in the pentathlon.  Eric Demars and Keron Francis are entered for Boise State in the heptathlon, while the Bronco women do not have an entry.

Running events begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with field events starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Arbiter Sports Staff

Related Posts:

1. Track and field begins outdoor season
2. Victorious: Boise State men’s track and field wins the WAC Championship, while the women’s team takes third
3. Broncos open indoor track season with the Blue and Orange Invitational
4. Track and Field prepares for NCAA Championships
5. Track and Field prepares for NCAA Western Regional competition