LIVE RESULTS | Live Video

AUSTIN, Texas – The 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship First Round begins on Thursday in Austin, with five Vandals taking part in the action.
 
Mack Baxter gets the Vandals started in the 400-meter hurdles.  The first heat begins at 3 p.m. Pacific, with Baxter competing in heat five.  The top three athletes from each of the six heats plus the next six fastest times qualify for the quarterfinals on Friday.
 
Next up is Rechelle Meade in the women's long jump, beginning at 5:15 p.m. Pacific.  Each athletes gets just three jumps, with the top 12 overall advancing to Eugene.  Kaizer Gillispie rounds out competition on Thursday with the 400-meters, beginning at 5:45 p.m. Pacific.  Gillispie will compete in the fifth heat, with the same system for advancing as the open 400.  Ben Doucette (110-hurdles), Nathan Stark (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Meade (high jump) will compete on Friday.
 
Live results can be found at the link above.
 
Idaho brings a number of talented young athletes, with four underclassmen in the mix.  However, this group isn't shy of the big stages and is ready to take on the challenge.
 
"I love competing.  It's just a drive.  I love when girls are ahead of me, it's such a pull.  Competing at conference, that girl who jumps 6.37, she's such an amazing person but I just thought 'I have to catch you, I have to meet your mark'.  I love that competitiveness and just bonding with the other girls." - Meade
 
"I'm just really excited.  I feel really good right now, I'm ready to go." - Doucette
 
"I get to run against faster people, I'm excited about that.  Fast people in my race make me run fast." - Baxter
 
"I'm definitely looking forward to the competition, it's something that's going to push me to be faster than what I'm used to.  Having a full heat of guys that can run the same time as me will help a lot." – Gillispie
 
The whole group is clicking at just the right time, with a couple of personal-bests and a pair of Big Sky Championships last weekend.
 
"I hadn't really had any good races, coming into conference outdoors.  The beginning of outdoor season we switched from the eight-step that I did all indoor season down to the seven-step to the first hurdle, which is usually something you don't try to do between seasons.  But we kind of wanted to see what it would do.  Up until three or four weeks ago it had just not been working out, so I really hadn't had a solid race all season, so I think last weekend was the first time I really put it together.  It felt good.
 
"Perfect timing for it.  Couldn't have come at a better time." – Doucette
 
"I'm ready.  A lot of things are finally clicking and I'm feeling more comfortable.  It's the right time to go out and compete with a larger group." - Meade
 
With so many young athletes competing the future of Idaho track and field is bright.
 
"It's a really good sign for the team.  We're getting really good recruits and really talented people.  If we can keep improving our senior year is going to be amazing.  Even everyone that didn't make it, they're really good athletes too and they'll keep training and they'll all be at that level at some point and it will help us as a team." – Gillispie
 
"I think it's going to be interesting for the coming years.  I know we're going to be strong next year and even stronger the year after that.  The fact that we're all young, going to these bigger events means we can only go up, I don't think we'll ever slow down." – Baxter
 
"It's just big things ahead.  Tim and Cathleen haven't been here very long but it's a very young, building program.  They're very good at recruiting some very talented people.  Moving forward out team is going to be a serious contender in the Big Sky.  Give us a few more years and a few more recruits and we're going to be a force in the Big Sky." – Doucette
 
"I'm psyched.  This team is just building upon itself and I'm excited for our future.  I can't imagine next year." – Meade
 
Despite being young, these athletes are still able to appreciate the moment and the experience for what it is.
 
"I've never been to Texas or Austin, I'm looking forward to that.  All the people that we're going down with, we're pretty close.  I'm excited just to travel with the team and the coaches, it's going to be a good time no matter what happens." – Doucette
 
"I actually got to run in Texas at the Junior Nationals, it was really humid so I'm hoping to get a little redemption from that.  I know I wilted in the sun, but I'm getting more used to it and I'll be a little more prepared for it this time.  I'm mostly just excited to run against some fast people." – Baxter
 
"I've never been to Texas, so that will be fun.  And I love my teammates, they're some of my best friends, so that's also fun too.  Just to chill with them and have some time where we can sort of relax before we get out and race.  And I've heard Austin is fun too, I'm looking forward to seeing that too." – Gillispie
 
Stay tuned to GoVandals.com and @IdahoTrack on Twitter for all the results and reactions from the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship First Round.
 
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.