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Pin It to Win It

 

[Nampa, ID.] The Sasquatch track teams headed south for the NNU Invitational on Saturday April 14th with high hopes for some quality marks and in search of some warmer weather in what has been a cold and wet track season this spring.

Once again, the teams much like the weather came through when it counted on Saturday. Temperatures in the mid sixty’s felt more like eighty degree and the Sasquatch did not disappoint with some hot action and results in many events.

Team captain Lizbeth Soto running in front of her friends and family put on a show. Already the NWAC leader in the women’s 400m, Soto stepped it up yet another notch in claiming the top spot on the conference performance list in two additional events. 

Soto started the day off with her season best in the long jump reaching a new season best and conference lead leaping 17’ 3.50”. Shortly after that she ran a great leg on the 4 x 100 relay helping the team of Miranda Irwin, Sydney Kinch, and Maycee Ward claim the third fastest time in the conference at 51.01.  

Not quite finished Soto cranked it up another notch in the women’s 200 running a brilliant 25.88 for yet another number one conference mark. Always a team leader and player Soto led off the women’s 4 x 400 relay along with Tabi Koscieski, Charlotte Falstad and Sophia Ferrao to finish the day with the fourth best in the conference at 4:19.23.

The Sasquatch women also had big days from Sydney Kinch in the pole vault with a clearance of 10’, good for the fifth best mark in the conference. Saira Schoener had three personal best on the day throwing the javelin a season best 124’ 9’, high jumping 4’5.25” and running the 200 in 29.82. Faith Wersland saw her best throw in the shot-put with a three-foot season best reaching 35’ 2.50”.  

The defending conference javelin champion Madeline Gebers continues to improve and threw the second longest throw in the conference of the year chucking the spear a very respectful 135’ 10”.  

Charlotte Falstad the conference leader in the women’s 3k steeplechase had a blue-collar workman day competing in the 1500m and turning in the seventh best time in the conference running 5:07.59. Falstad also ran a very solid 800m in 2:29.74 and then ran a very good leg on the 4 x 400 relay.

Team captain and leader Jaxson continues to dazzle in the men’s high jump. The 2022 defending NWAC high jump champion last year won his title by clearing 6’5” at the conference meet. Jaxson continues to soar to new heights in 2023. With an indoor season best of 6’ 8.50” Nichols won the NNU high jump with a season and lifetime best of 6’9.50” not only giving him the conference lead which he has help throughout this year, but also moves him into elite company on the CCS all-time list in the event at # 14.

Another team captain Reise Raymond continues to throw consistently each week in the men’s javelin. Raymond captured his first collegiate win of his career topping the field on Saturday with a winning throw of 169’ 8”. Reise continues to hold the fifth best throw in the conference in what looks like another stacked year in the javelin. 

The Sasquatch sprinters continue to impress each weekend. Freshman Dalton Wild led the way this weekend in Nampa. The Post Falls native ran the fastest time in the conference so far this year in the 200m blazing to a 22.40 mark. Wild also had his season best in the 100m running a solid 11.20.  He also ran the anchor leg on the 4 x 100 relay along with teammates Chris Hansen, Dre Gonzalez and Zach Merrifield. The squad turned in the second fastest time in the conference running 42.54. only .73 off the conference leaders.

Montana freshman Chris Hansen reached a new season best in the men’s long jump leaping 22’6.25” putting him in fourth on the conference performance list. His 11.16 in the 100m, was his second fastest time of the year. Chris showed flashes of brilliance in the men’s long jump on Saturday. While foul jumps aren’t counted Hansen’s last jump in the competition was given a courtesy measurement and was out over 24’ at 7.30m. The men’s conference long jump will be worth the price of admission at this year’s championships.

Other sasquatch men having quality days included Jaxson Orr in the men’s discus who finished third overall with a toss of 139’. Jaxson continues to rank second in the conference in the discus. Ryan Dewey saw his best marks of the year in both the men’s javelin throw hitting a throw of 145’4” and in the hammer throw where he reached 121’ 

The meet was a success in many ways with 26 Sasquatch student-athlete’s reached season or personal bests as the drive toward the NWAC conference championships May 22-23 at Mt. Hood Community College heats up and the team heads into the final qualifying meet of the season.

Currently Dalton Wild (200m), Gideon Swanson (5K), Kiler Borg (3k Steeple), Jaxson Nichols (HJ, Decathlon), and Lizbeth Soto (200m, LJ, 400m) are all ranked number one on the latest conference performance list.

A recent motivational factor has been the addition of PR pins being award to each student that reaches a new personal best in their events. A custom bronze pin was created for the team award and looks great on their bucket hats and backpacks. 

Up next is the Central Washington Invite on Saturday April 22. 

 

Tags

#Women's Track and Field   


Posted On

4/20/2023 10:27:51 AM


Posted By

John Spatz


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