LIVE STREAM | Schedule | Performance Chart | Heat Sheets | TFRRS
 
POCATELLO, Idaho – Championship season is here, as Idaho heads out for the 2016 Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Idaho State, beginning on Thursday and running through Saturday.
 
Fans can follow along with the live stream at WatchBigSky.com or the link provided above.  For complete schedule information, check the link above.
 
A number of Vandals are ranked highly, with Ben Doucette (60-meter hurdles) and Arphaxad Carroll (long jump) leading the way in their respective events.  For the complete list, check the performance chart linked above.
 
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Freshman sensation Rechelle Meade will be making her championship debut this weekend, competing in three events.  Meade has made a tremendous impact on the program already, and is ranked in the top-10 in all three events that she will compete in (60-meters, long jump, high jump).
 
The transition to college athletics has been no easy task for Meade, a native of the small island country of Anguilla, but she took it all in stride and is making the most of the opportunity.
 
"I talked with coach Tim Cawley and got some details on the school, we Skyped and talked about his background and then I did some research as well," Meade said.  "I was like, 'OK, my main event is the long jump, and he's coached an Olympian'.
 
"Coming out here was a major transition for me.  I came from a grass track, didn't have a gym to train with, so everything here was a big step up.  The coaching staff was similar to my coach back home, so that was a bit easier on the transition process, but the facilities and everything else are a big step up.  My body doesn't hurt as much, and I just feel like I'm making strides.  There's nothing mentally holding me back."
 
It's not all sunshine though, there have been some challenges for Meade.
 
"Oh, the weather.  I was kind of worried about the winter.  I went to get my Visa and one of the officers was from America.  He said he went to Idaho, and it's freezing up there.
 
"I hated autumn the most.  It's windy! I couldn't deal with the breeze.  I preferred the snow, because it wasn't as breezy.  Then it got colder and colder, I had to get warmer clothes, I was just like, 'I can't deal with this, my body is just breaking down in this weather'.  That's the only thing I've had a problem with at Idaho.  I like the school, the teachers.  It amazed me how much they want everyone to pass.  They aren't just trying to weed out the weak from the strong, they actually want to help you.  It was something very pleasing to see."
 
Strides she definitely has made, as she continues to impress as one of her nations' best athletes.  Most recently, Meade hit 1.75 meters in the high jump at the UW Open in Seattle.
 
"I was told that I broke it, but for official records I'm not really sure, so we're saying I tied the national record for the indoor high jump and I have the junior record for the long jump.  I'm heading toward the senior one, but I have to go 6.7 meters, so I'm about one meter away.  There was an Olympian from our country, Shara Proctor, so she has the record for that," Meade said with a smile.
 
Now it's championship season, and Meade is ready for the next challenge thrown her way.
 
"I had some nervous anxiety about it, especially up until yesterday when I talked with coach.  I was worried that maybe I may have peaked already, and this is the point where I need to be peaking.  But I know that the distance I'm hitting is not the best I've hit in my career.  Talking to my coach really calmed me down and I'm excited."
 
Don't let her upbeat personality fool you, Meade is a serious competitor and knows what she wants to accomplish this week against the best of the best in the Big Sky Conference.  She isn't ranked first in any of her three events, but competing against these "better" athletes will push Meade to be the best she can be.
 
"I'm competitive, that's going to push me.  I'm excited to see what distance I'm going to hit now and what times I'm going to put down.  I've been putting in the extra work to work out the kinks, I'm ready to get it.  It's time.  There are people that are better than me there.  People that, so far, have gone farther distances.
 
"So far."
 
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.