Vandals wrap up weekend well

SEATTLE – University of Idaho track and field competed a small group on Sunday at the UW Indoor Open at Seattle, Wash., and finished up with one win and 10 career bests.

Junior Kyle Rothwell powered his way to a win in the men's weight throw a second day in a row with a heave of 62-4.5 (19.01m). He's undefeated in seven weight throw competitions so far this season and has added nearly four feet to his career best already this year.

“Kyle's improvement this season has been great, and it's happening week by week,” Idaho director of track and field/cross country Wayne Phipps said. “To go through this weekend with two huge throws is a great confidence thing for him. It speaks volumes to how hard he works and how dedicated he is to that event.”

Despite running their second long race in two days, Idaho women's distance runners performed well at the meet. Junior Alycia Butterworth finished ninth in the mile run with a season-best time of 4:59.02, while junior Emily Paradis added a career-best time of 5:07.31.

In the women's 3000m, freshman Halie Raudenbush posted a 12th-place finish in 10:14.46 in her first career race over the distance, while sophomore Abby Larson (10:31.53), freshman Stephanie Rexus (10:33.75) and freshman Alex Sciocchetti (10:35.49) all added career bests in the event.

“We tried to get some people into some events they don't normally compete and give them a chance to double back,” Phipps said. “The kids who competed today, despite being a little tired, did really well and ended up getting some solid races and PRs.”

Also tallying career bests at the meet were freshman Ian Middleton (50.10) and junior Kyle Tylor (50.11) in the men's 400m, sophomore Colton Hastings in the 800m (1:57.39) and freshmen Santos Vargas (4:22.94) and Tyler Jaszkowiak (4:27.24) in the men's mile. Senior Donavon Cunningham tied a career best with a mark of 55-5 (16.89m) for a fifth-place finish in the men's weight throw.

Phipps said he's pleased with the way the team is progressing as the indoor season winds down toward crunch time. The Vandals have two home meets on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16, and then the team heads to Albuquerque, N.M. for the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 21-23.

“We're not firing on all cylinders quite yet,” Phipps said. “We need to get some people up and healthy, but I think we accomplished a lot this weekend with some conference-leading marks and one mark that's hopefully going to get one person to nationals, so I think we're in a good position going into conference.”

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Players Mentioned

Santos Vargas: DISTANCE; Redshirt

Ian Middleton: SPRINTS; Redshirt

Colton Hastings: DISTANCE; Sophomore

Abby Larson: DISTANCE; Sophomore

Halie Raudenbush: DISTANCE; Redshirt

Alycia Butterworth: DISTANCE; Junior

Emily Paradis: DISTANCE; Junior

Kyle Tylor: DISTANCE; Senior

Kyle Rothwell: THROWS; Junior

Alex Sciocchetti: DISTANCE; Redshirt

Donavon Cunningham: THROWS; Senior

Stephanie Rexus: DISTANCE; Redshirt

Players Mentioned

Santos Vargas
: Redshirt
: DISTANCE

Ian Middleton
: Redshirt
: SPRINTS

Colton Hastings
: Sophomore
: DISTANCE

Abby Larson
: Sophomore
: DISTANCE

Halie Raudenbush
: Redshirt
: DISTANCE

Alycia Butterworth
: Junior
: DISTANCE

Emily Paradis
: Junior
: DISTANCE

Kyle Tylor
: Senior
: DISTANCE

Kyle Rothwell
: Junior
: THROWS

Alex Sciocchetti
: Redshirt
: DISTANCE

Donavon Cunningham
: Senior
: THROWS

Stephanie Rexus
: Redshirt
: DISTANCE