Track and field dominates Idaho Cup: BSU wins 10 events in first outdoor meet

Through snow and then perfect weather, the track and field team swept away the competition Friday and Saturday in the Idaho Cup.

“I was real happy,” head coach Mike Maynard said. “I think the training is really coming into the body of the athletes and it was great.”

While Saturday saw perfect weather for competing, Friday’s events could have been in a different city. In Boise State’s first outdoor meet, the Broncos had a quick start.

Thrower Sasa Kampie competed for her first time in the United States in outdoor track, and took home first place in javelin with a throw of 47.90 meters.

“That was my first javelin competition in the United States,” she said. “I was really excited about it. I prepared for it mentally really, really hard; it was exciting because I finally got things together. I felt great. Nothing hurt, nothing bothered me, the weather was perfect. It was just great.”

Kampie came to Boise State from Switzerland at the beginning of spring semester, similarly to sprinter Per Strandquist. Kampie blew away the competition in her first meet in the states, much like Strandquist’s dominating sprints during indoor season.

“It’s a really big step from Europe to the United States,” she said. “I have high standards this season. I would like to throw over 50 meters. I’m really working hard and practicing hard to do that. There are little things that I need to improve and I want to improve every meet.”

In men’s throwing, redshirt freshman Trevor Kravchir had his moment to lead the Broncos. Senior Simon Wardhaugh didn’t compete to rest from a grueling indoor season.

“Kravchir qualified in the hammer and that’s really exciting because Wardhaugh has kind of been the dominating thrower for our team for several years now,” Maynard said. “He’s a senior this year. We held him out of this meet to kind of get ready.”

Kravchir won men’s hammer throw with a toss of 57.78 meters. That throw is also an NCAA regional qualifier.

“The indoor season was a very successful season and I’m just glad all the work I’ve been doing has been starting to pay off,” Kravchir said. “Starting strong doesn’t mean ending weak, so I’m sure as I continue to progress in my training, and the drills that I’m working on, and patience, my athleticism will continue and the progress will continue too.”

While the throwers stated their dominance on the field, several other Broncos had amazing performances. Breanna Sande took first place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. The men’s 4×100 team ran to a first place finish. Strandquist also ran the 100 meter dash in 10.70 seconds to take home first place. Both the women’s and men’s 4×400 meter relay teams dominated to carry away first place.

Ryan Grinnell continued jumping perfectly with a first place finish in the long jump. Zacharias Arnos finished first in the triple jump. On the women’s pole vault, the Broncos swept the podium with Danielle Valentine, Annelise Bertleson and BreAnna Craig finishing first, second and third respectively.

Now the Broncos have the warm Arizona weather to look forward to, and high level competition as they travel to the Sun Angels meet in Tempe next week.

Video recorded by Arbiter Journalists Brittany Johnson and Trent Lootens;

edited by Josh Rasmussen Sports Producer

BRITTNEY JOHNSON
Arbiter Journalist

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2. Track and field begins outdoor season
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