Idaho’s Blake Sturgis Earns Second Big Sky Athlete of the Week Honor After Historic Hammer Throw at Beach Invitational
Spokane Native Makes Vandal History in Long Beach
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho senior Blake Sturgis has been named Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Week for the second time this outdoor season, continuing what has already become one of the most remarkable individual campaigns in Vandal track and field history.
The honor follows a dominant performance last weekend at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, California, where Sturgis broke the 70-meter barrier for the first time in his college career. His throw of 71.32 meters (234 feet) not only reset his personal best but moved him to second all-time in Vandal program history. The mark also ties Sturgis for 10th in the Big Sky Conference record book and ranks 18th nationally among all athletes this season.
The Spokane native’s accomplishment at Long Beach has already been recognized by the university in a separate feature. Vandals Make School History in Long Beach details the full scope of that record-setting weekend performance.
Sturgis has been a model of consistency throughout the 2026 outdoor season. He has earned a top-three finish in every meet he has entered and has surpassed the 66-meter (216-foot, 6-inch) mark in all four competitions to date. He is one of only three Big Sky athletes this season to have posted a throw beyond 70 meters — a threshold that separates elite collegiate hammer throwers from the rest of the field.
Idaho Collecting Conference Recognition Across the Board
Sturgis’ second weekly award is part of a broader wave of recognition for the University of Idaho track and field program this spring. His honor marks Idaho’s sixth Big Sky Athlete of the Week award of the outdoor season, a figure that underscores the depth of talent the Vandal program has assembled heading into the postseason.
Last week, standout performers Hanna Tait and the Idaho men’s and women’s 4×100-meter relay teams each earned the weekly conference honor. Earlier in the season, sprinter Keenan Kuntz captured the award in March, sharing recognition alongside Sturgis during that same award cycle.
The accumulation of conference accolades reflects a program performing at a high level across multiple events and disciplines. For a program representing a university of Idaho’s size and resources, competing consistently at the top of a Power-adjacent conference like the Big Sky requires strong recruiting, disciplined coaching, and athletes willing to put in the work — qualities that appear to be on full display in Moscow this spring.
Sturgis himself arrived at Idaho with experience, and his first season wearing the Black and Gold has exceeded expectations. His ability to anchor the Vandals’ field event program while fellow athletes contribute in relays and sprints has given Idaho a well-rounded competitive identity as the outdoor calendar heads toward its final stretch.
What Comes Next
The Vandals will remain on the Palouse for their next competition, heading to Pullman, Washington, for the Cougar Classic at Washington State University on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25. The meet represents another opportunity for Sturgis and his teammates to sharpen their performances ahead of the Big Sky Conference Championships.
With the conference championship meet approaching, Sturgis and the Vandals are building momentum at the right time. A national ranking of 18th in his event and a place in the Big Sky’s all-time record books give the senior hammer thrower legitimate aspirations for a deep postseason run.
Fans and followers can keep up with the Idaho Track and Field program on Instagram at @IdahoTrack, on X at @IdahoTFXC, and at GoVandals.com. For additional coverage of University of Idaho athletics and statewide sports news, visit Idaho News.