Vandals send 11 to West regionals in Arkansas

Despite being one of the most decorated athletes in University of Idaho history, Hannah Kiser still has one thing left on her to-do list - make it to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The senior distance runner will be one of 11 Vandals hoping to accomplish that goal this weekend at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds for track and field, taking place today through Saturday at Fayetteville, Ark. Those who perform well enough this weekend will advance to the championships held June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore.

Kiser has competed in the preliminary meets twice before, but has failed to advance both times. She's hoping the third time will prove to be the charm.

"Confidence-wise and fitness-wise, I'm feeling as good as I have all season," Kiser said. "I had to take time off in the winter for injury so this year I'm ranked 30th or 31st, and last year I was ranked 7th and failed to advance, but I've got a really good feeling about this. I feel like I have a lot more heart because I haven't run as much, so hopefully I can take that and use the fitness I have to make my first trip to the finals."

She certainly appears to be peaking at the right time to meet her goal. At the Western Athletic Conference Championship two weeks ago, Kiser became the first woman in WAC history to win the 1500-meter, 5000m and 10000m and was voted Women's Outstanding Track Performer for the second year in a row.

"She's had a long road back from some injuries in cross-country, but every week she's been getting better and better and more confident," coach Wayne Phipps said. "I think this is the most confident I've seen her in a long time. So even though she's not ranked that high this year, based on her performances in past years, I think she has a very good chance to qualify."

Alycia Butterworth (6th in the 3000m steeplechase) and Matt Sullivan (15th in the pole vault) enter the meet as the two highest ranked Vandals, and if they perform the way they usually do, they could both advance to Eugene.

"On paper it looks like they have the best chances, but with Hannah improving she has a great chance, and our throwers are performing at a high level," Phipps said. "We could sneak a few athletes in there."

Freshman Arphaxad Carroll, who took the WAC by storm, will be competing in the triple jump. He set a new personal record of 49 feet, 5 inches at the conference tournament, and thinks he can one-up that this weekend.

"Hopefully I can PR and make it to nationals," Carroll said. "The competition is going to be intense. I'm just hoping to compete well because I'll be under a lot of pressure. I'm going to be jumping against some of the best in the nation, some are going to be Olympians, and I'm hoping to make it to that level."

Ben Ayesu-Attah will be another performer to keep an eye on. The speedy junior holds the fastest time in the WAC in the 400 and 26th-best in the west.

"I think he's ready to have a breakthrough race in the first round of the NCAA," Phipps said. "He's had some experience there so I feel like he's ready to go."

On the women's side, sophomore Tayler Feinauer will compete in the javelin after winning the conference title. A trio of freshman - Katelyn Peterson, Ana Pardo and Faith Eruwa - will get their first taste of regionals as well. Peterson and Pardo took WAC gold in the high jump and shot put, respectively, while Eruwa took second in the triple jump.

On the men's side, Andrey Levkiv will compete in the shot put and Kyle Rothwell will compete in the hammer throw.

Perhaps giving the Vandals a bit of extra motivation was Tuesday's news that Phipps will be coaching at Washington State after 19 years of being involved with Idaho's program. For the decorated coach, however, it's business as usual.

"Right now I'm a Vandal," Phipps said. "And we're going to represent the University of Idaho the best we can this weekend and hopefully again in Eugene."

Ben Handel can be reached at (208) 883-4629, or by email to bhandel@dnews.com.