NAMPA, Idaho – The College of Idaho track and field teams delivered a dominant showing at the NNU Nighthawk Opener, securing 51 total conference-qualifying marks, three school records, and 26 new all-time top-10 performances. The Yotes also recorded an impressive 105 personal bests on the day.
Women's Highlights
Charlotte Bowman made history, becoming the first Yote woman to break the 12-second barrier in the 100-meter dash with a school-record time of 11.92 seconds, taking first place. She added two more conference-qualifying performances with a win in the 200 meters (25.02, No. 3 all-time) and long jump (5.44m, No. 4 all-time).
Kiriann Johnson also etched her name in the record books, setting a new school mark in the pole vault with a winning clearance of 3.60 meters.
Other standout performers included Zoe Butler (400m, 59.03, No. 10 all-time), Dakota Bussen (400m hurdles, 1:08.78, No. 10 all-time; high jump, 1.57m, No. 8 all-time), and Mattie Shirts (high jump, 1.62m, No. 5 all-time). In the field events, Star Herron (shot put, discus, hammer) and Kaylee Wuest (shot put, discus) each notched multiple conference-qualifying marks.
Men's Highlights
Zach Curtsinger led the Yotes' charge on the track, setting a school record in the 400 meters with a blistering time of 48.68 seconds en route to first place. Sprinter Chris Shakespeare earned top-three all-time rankings in both the 100 meters (10.89, No. 3 all-time) and 200 meters (22.09, No. 4 all-time), winning the 100 and finishing second in the 200.
The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Keegan Croteau, Dylan Wolfe, Jeremiah Chukwudobe, and Shakespeare clocked a 42.21, placing first and ranking No. 3 in school history.
In the field, Keenan Blair continued his dominance with a first-place shot put mark of 15.88m (No. 2 all-time) and additional conference-qualifying marks in the discus (45.47m) and hammer (48.73m). Patxi Franks followed closely in the shot put with a mark of 15.79m (T-No. 3 all-time).
Triple jumper Eli Hayes took first place with a mark of 13.01m, while Amari Bluford earned runner-up in the long jump (6.36m) and added a conference qualifier in the triple jump (12.75m). Logan Prince (high jump, 1.90m, No. 6 all-time) and Aiden Everard (pole vault, 4.21m, No. 7 all-time) also contributed top-10 program marks.
The Yotes will look to build on this momentum in their next meet as they continue their quest for conference and national qualifications.
