May 6, 2009

Utah Twilight Meet: Complete Results

Pocatello, ID --- Sophomore Eric Strand and freshman Michael Arnold boosted the Idaho State track team's number of NCAA Regional qualifying performances to 11 with spectacular performances over the past four days in the state of Utah.

Strand ran a raw time of 1:50.90 in the 800-meter run at the SUU Invitational on Saturday in Cedar City, Utah, but after applying altitude adjustments, the mark is 1:50.05, a regional mark and second in the Big Sky this season by .01 seconds. Tuesday night at the Utah Twilight Meet in Salt Lake City, Arnold became the third Big Sky men's pole vaulter to qualify for regionals -- all from Idaho State -- by clearing 16-06.75.

Strand and Arnold turned in the 10th and 11th regional qualifying marks for the Bengals this season. Levi Keller has qualified in two events, the decathlon and the pole vault. The others are: Sergio Jones (200-meter dash), John Ricardi (3,000-meter steeplechase), Sam Pierson (pole vault), Nathan Capps (decathlon), Erica Wendt (3,000-meter steeplechase), Sydney Wendt (high jump) and Sasha Buylova (triple jump). Arnold is the only freshman in the bunch, and Strand, Buylova and Erica Wendt are the only sophomores.

Also, five other ISU athletes posted new or improved Big Sky Conference qualifying marks over the past four days. Kylee Gleason improved her pole vault mark to 12-03.75 at the Utah Twilight Meet on Tuesday. Gemma Maini, Erica Wendt and Zach Barrett all attained conference qualifying marks in the 800-meter run, and Kris Thomasberg qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The Bengals are off until May 13, when they begin competition in the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships in Missoula, Mont.