A Swede addition: Per Strandquist and the track and field team will compete in the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championship meet this weekend at the Jacksons Indoor Track in Nampa.

A new addition to the Boise State Track and Field team this year is sprinter/jumper Per Strandquist. The freshman came to Boise State from Akarp, Sweden this January.

Strandquist said he has always thought about moving to the United States.

“I love the US,” Strandquist said. “When I started high school, my goal was to go to the United States after I’m done.”

The 21-year-old eventually ended up looking at Boise State, when one of his friends, former Bronco Discus thrower Staffan Jonsson, recommended the school. Strandquist talked to the coaches and looked at the athletic environment that the school provided and decided to give it a shot.

“The coaches, the way they act and how everybody treats you, that makes you feel comfortable,” Strandquist said. “That’s why you want to be a Bronco.”

The Swede has gotten off to a good start to his career as a Bronco. He holds the third fastest times in the 60-meter dash (6.89) and the 200-meter dash (21.73) in the WAC. He ran a 6.87 at the NAU Tune-Up hosted by Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., but the time was later adjusted due to altitude.

Strandquist said he enjoyed the trip to Arizona as traveling is one of his passions.

“I’m a big fan of traveling,” Strandquist said. The trip to Arizona was perfect for me to get out of Boise and see some new things. I went with seven other guys and we had a lot of fun.”

Upon coming to the United States, Strandquist had to get used to balancing school and sports. Like in many European countries, sports in Sweden are mainly played in city club teams, so competing against other schools has been a new experience for the freshman.

The sprinter/jumper concentrated on his career in sports after high school. Getting back into the daily routine of going to school has been another adjustment he has had to make. On top of that, he has to take classes in a language that is not his own.

“Right now it is very hard, because there is a language barrier. School has been a little bit tough, because there is so much information and I haven’t studied in two and a half years.”

Strandquist has been competing closely with his teammates and fellow sprinters Marlon Douglas, Eric Capelle and Eetu Viitala. The competition helps them to constantly push their performances.

“To have those four guys in the 60 and the 200 is really critical,” Boise State Track and Field head coach Mike Maynard said. “Every time the gun sounds it’s a different one of them racing to be the first to the 25-meters. It raises the training level for each of them.”

Maynard hopes these performances will help the team be successful in the upcoming WAC championships this weekend.

“We have an opportunity on both the men’s and women’s side to win this championship,” Maynard said. “A key component of that will be our sprints group, which is something that we’ve never been able to rely on in the past."

ANDREAS KREUTZER
Arbiter Journalist

Related Posts:

1. Track and field dominates Idaho Cup: BSU wins 10 events in first outdoor meet
2. Victorious: Boise State men’s track and field wins the WAC Championship, while the women’s team takes third
3. Indoor track and field begin season
4. Track and field hosts final home meet
5. BSU track and field sets records at home meet