The University of Idaho track and field team delivered a commanding performance at Washington State University’s Mooberry Track on Thursday, with Vandal athletes capturing first place in 10 separate events during the mid-week competition.
Senior Tyler Graff led the way with a season-best showing in the 3000-meter steeplechase, while sprinter Naomi Taylor clocked a 26.53 in the 200 meters, improving her previous season best by more than a tenth of a second. Taylor’s earlier mark came at the Jeff Rahn Classic earlier in April.
Sprint Events Showcase Vandal Depth
The men’s 200-meter dash highlighted Idaho’s depth in the sprints, with Mateo Ganje leading three Vandals across the finish line with a time of 21.64 seconds. Myron Rethymniotakis recorded a personal-best 21.70, while Logan Peterson also set a new personal record at 22.57.
Rethymniotakis made an impressive debut in the 100-meter dash, finishing second overall with a 10.91-second effort in his first career attempt at the event. Idaho swept the next three positions, with Cash Jones, JaRae Long, and Ganje rounding out the top five finishers.
Field Events Belong to the Vandals
The women’s long jump competition turned into an Idaho showcase, as the Vandals claimed the top four spots. Sydnie Zywina led the sweep, with Jada Miller and Mara Fuerniss finishing close behind. All three jumpers came within 25 centimeters of their personal-best distances.
In the throwing events, Gioele Tengattini and Kathryn Burnette each captured victories in the shot put for their respective divisions. Idaho went one-two in the women’s competition, with Tesse Kamps recording a throw of 13.95 meters to claim second place.
Amanda Munoz provided one of the meet’s most dramatic moments in the triple jump. After fouling on her first four attempts, Munoz delivered an 11.87-meter jump on her final attempt to secure first place.
What Comes Next
The Vandals will split their squad next weekend, competing at both the Oregon State Invite and Arizona’s Desert Heat Classic as the outdoor season continues. The dual-meet strategy will allow Idaho’s coaching staff to enter athletes in events that best suit their development and competitive goals heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Idaho’s strong showing at Washington State continues the program’s momentum as conference championship season approaches. The Vandals demonstrated both individual excellence and team depth across sprint, distance, and field events during Thursday’s competition in Pullman.