MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Track and Field program is set to begin the 2017 indoor season with the Vandal Indoor Invitational.  The multi-events will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, while the individual field events will kick off at 9 a.m. on Friday.  The running events will start at noon on Friday.
 
Fans can follow along with all the action on Friday with the FREE live stream through WatchBigSky.com and the Big Sky app.  A link for the stream can be found on the right or through the track and field schedule page.
 
Drew Thompson and Brian Skinner will compete in the heptathlon, beginning on Thursday.  Thompson returns for his senior season after finishing second in the heptathlon at the Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships last year.
 
The individual events get started on Friday morning and will feature many of Idaho's top performers from last season.  Second Team All-American Arphaxad Carroll will take on the long jump competition.  Carroll placed 16^th at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene.  Jonny Magee will be competing in the triple jump, an event he placed fifth in at last year's Big Sky Outdoor Championships.
 
The women's side also returns a number of athletes with championship aspirations in 2017.  Senior Katelyn Peterson returns after finishing third in the high jump at the 2016 Big Sky Outdoor Championships.  Peterson has three conference titles to her name, winning the high jump at the WAC Indoor Championships in 2014, the WAC Outdoor Championships in 2014 and the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in 2015.  Peterson has never finished lower than fourth at a conference championship event.
 
Faith Eruwa and Marquita Palmer are looking to take the final steps toward individual titles this year after finishing on the podium at the outdoor championships last season.  Eruwa took third in the triple jump, the event she will be competing in this week, while Palmer placed second in the 800-meters.  Palmer will be competing in the 400-meters and with the 4x400-meter relay team this week.
 
For the full list of competitors this week, check the link on the right.
 
A number of local teams will be competing, including Big Sky rival Eastern Washington.  Central Washington, LCSC, Linfield, Saint Martin's, Spokane CC and Whitworth will also be present.
 
Check back with GoVandals.com afterward for the full recap and results.
 
To stay current on all Vandal Athletics visit GoVandals.com, or follow the Vandals on Twitter, @Idaho_Vandals.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho track and field/cross country by following the team on Twitter @IdahoTrack.