SPOKANE, Wash. – Idaho track and field gets the outdoor portion of the schedule underway this week, with the annual Sam Adams Classic in Spokane.  Competition begins on Thursday, March 21, and continues through March 22.  Check back with GoVandals.com after the events for the full recap.
 
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Senior Austin Beyer had a breakout season in 2018, taking a spot on the podium at the Big Sky Championships and earning a trip to the NCAA Championships First Round in Sacramento.  With no javelin competition during the indoor season, Beyer has spent the last 10 months doing the only thing he could: getting better.
 
"This year has been interesting, with the new coach and everything," Beyer said.  "I really like a lot of the things we've been doing.  It isn't really too different than what I had been doing in the past, but I feel a lot fitter than I was.
 
"When Brett (Olsen) first got here, I remember him telling me within the first couple of weeks that he wanted me to be technically strong, like event-specific strong.  So I've been more consistent with technique.  We did a lot of throwing in the offseason, typically two or three throw days per week.
 
"This year, I definitely feel a lot better at this time than I had during the other years."
 
With no competition to get up for, Beyer has to focus on the long term goals to stay focused.
 
"You have to have goals.  I have had to remind myself of what I want to accomplish.  I know that if I don't work toward those goals in the offseason then I won't have a chance to even get close to any of them.  A lot of it is just reminding yourself of what you want to do and what you want to accomplish.
 
"I have a little dry erase board in my room in my apartment, and I've listed out some of the things that I want to hit.  I think having goals like that, either in your head or written down somewhere, is important.  At the end of the day, once you've done all the work and you get in season, and you get to start checking off those goals, it's just a really great feeling and it shows that you're improving and making progress toward your overall goal."
 
Now that competition is right around the corner, Beyer and Olsen have their plans locked in for the season.
 
"We have a plan for what we're going to do and how we're going to attack the competition season.  Potentially opening this week, but my first real shot at hitting a qualifying mark for First Rounds will be next week in Sacramento.  It's California, so the weather should be nice."
 
Last year's goals were pretty simple: keep getting better and make it to the NCAA First Rounds.
 
"The goals this year?  Obviously make First Rounds again."
 
There's more.
 
"So that's one thing, to qualify, that way I don't have to keep going out and just wail on my body.  I can step back, take some meets off where I need to and take care of myself.
 
"The ultimate goal for this year, I do want to win Big Sky.  I took third last year.  But there are some really good guys in our conference, and it was a really good competition last year."
 
Any more?
 
"And after conference and First Rounds are all said and done, I'd love to make the finals.  Go to the NCAA Finals and be an All-American.
 
"End my college career with a bang."
 
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