May 12, 2009

Pocatello, ID --- Freshman Michael Arnold was named the Big Sky's Co-Men's Field Athlete of the Week for the week of May 4-10, the conference announced Tuesday.

Arnold, from Carson City, Nev., posted an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the pole vault, clearing 16-06.75 at the Utah Spring Twilight meet on May 5 in Salt Lake City. He is the third Big Sky athlete to qualify for the NCAA regional meet in the pole vault, and all three are from Idaho State (the others are Levi Keller and Sam Pierson).

Arnold's selection marks the third consecutive week an Idaho State athlete has won Big Sky Athlete of the Week honors. Levi Keller (Co-Men's Field) and Sergio Jones (Men's Track) were honored last week, and Keller won the Men's Field award the week before that. Prior to that string, the only ISU weekly winner this season was Sydney Wendt, who won Women's Field Athlete of the Week during outdoor season.

Arnold and the rest of the Idaho State track squad will compete in the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 13-16 in Missoula, Mont. The NCAA West Regional is May 29-30 in Eugene, Ore.