April 4, 2009

Boise, ID --- The weather outside was frightful, but the Idaho State track teams made the most of it, winning two of the five events completed on a snowstorm-shortened first day at the All-Idaho Cup at Bronco Stadium in Boise.

Junior John Ricardi captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing the event in 9:49.20 minutes. Ricardi led a squad of Bengals in the top three as Ryan Davis took second (10:00.00) and Taylor Hansen nabbed third (10:25.00).

Ricardi also placed in the 1,500-meter run, taking third with a time of 4:16.74. Sophomore Eric Strand captured that event, finishing in 4:15.30 minutes. Zac Barrett came in fifth with a time of 4:20.07.

The women picked up two second-place finishes. Sophomore Erica Wendt took silver in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, completing the event in a time of 11:32.20, 12 seconds behind winner Breanna Sande of Boise State. Senior Gemma Maini was the runner-up in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:45.79, nine seconds behind winner Ashley Puga of Northwest Nazarene. Bradi Hutchison (fifth) and Kerynn Davis (sixth) also fared well in the event. Cheyenne Andrade was the lone ISU participant in the women's hammer throw, and finished sixth with a toss of 36.91 meters.

Officials hope to cram the rest of the meet into Saturday. Events begin at 10 a.m., with an approximate finish time slated for 5:50 p.m.