BSU posts provisional marks at Bronco Invitational
Sports Monday, February 1st, 2010
NIK BJUSTROM/THE ARBITER – BSU sophomore Quinten Hennekam pulled ahead during the final lap of the men’s mile to take first place Saturday at the Jackson Indoor Track in Nampa.
NAMPA, Idaho — The Boise State track and field team competed in their second meet of the 2010 indoor season Saturday in Nampa at the Bronco Invitational.
The BSU squad continued their pattern of doing exceptional in some areas and struggling in others. The Broncos faced stiff competition from Mountain West opponents Utah and BYU as well as locals Northwest Nazarene University and the College of Idaho.
The BSU women’s team had a topsy-turvy day. They struggled for the most part in the running aspect of the day, but earned high marks in field competition.
Eleni Kafourou had a break out performance earning first place in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 13.05 meters and the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.35 meters.
Mele Vaisima took first for the second time in two weeks with a throw of 18.49 meters. The most riveting event of the day occurred early on in the men’s one mile. BSU’s Quinten Hennekam and NNU’S Barak Watson were engaged in a duel that could have gone either way. Both runners kept trading spots for first place and came into the last lap neck and neck. Hennekam, who in the pervious lap had led the race, began to lose ground to Watson.
“It was a mental battle,” Watson said.
It seemed during the final lap that Watson would take it but during the final stretch Watson visibly began to wear down as Hennekam broke away into the clear to earn a first place finish with a time of 4 minutes, 19.99 seconds. Though it was a close race Hennekam said he believed from the start that he would take first.
“Coming into that last lap I knew I had a lot left in the tank,” said Hennekam. “I think I won today because I was the strongest out there.”
Triple jump star Zach Arnos’ solidified his place as the man to watch with another exceptional performance. Arno’s came into Saturday’s competition already ranked ninth in the nation. Arnos, who last week earned NCAA provisional status with a leap of 15.55 meters, reached down somewhere deep inside himself to pull out an even better jump of 15.96 meters.
“My goal coming into my senior year was to compete in nationals,” Arnos said. “I am healthy and as the day began I thought to myself ‘why not today?’”
“I don’t think Zach has began to peak yet. I think he definitely has a chance at finishing season in the top five,” BSU jumps coach Jeff Petersmyer said.
Finnish long jumper Eetu Viitala burst out of nowhere to earn first place in the men’s long jump event. Coming off of an injury earlier this summer Viitala place on the squad was more than uncertain coming into today.
Viitala competed Saturday under the banner as an unattached individual, not as apart of the Boise State team. Though Viitala trains with the Broncos, none of the points he earned were scored along with the rest of the team. With a first place finish it is almost guaranteed that by next week’s meet Viitala will be a full fledged member of the BSU track and field team.
“I came into the meet with little training,” Viitala said.
Viitalla took first with a jump of 7.26 meters. As good as he did, Vitala is positive there is more where that came from.
“I will definitely be doing better later in the season.”
The Broncos compete in Nampa next at the United Heritage Invitational Feb. 5-6. Friday events begin at 5 p.m. while Saturday events kick off at 9 a.m.
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