CORVALLIS, Ore. – It's back on the road for Idaho track and field, with the team splitting up for the OSU High Performance Meet and the WSU Cougar Invitational.  Competition in Corvallis begins on Friday, and the Vandals get started in Pullman on Saturday.
 
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After redshirting the 2018 outdoor season, Kaizer Gillispie is getting back to his old self in 2019.
 
"I decided to just focus on getting my strength up, and focus on my training.  It was weird, not being able to compete, because it felt like so long ago that I had competed.  It was all about getting myself ready for this season.
 
"A lot of things are coming together.  We had some setbacks at the beginning of the year, with some asthma related issues and injuries, but we're getting the injuries under control.  My times are getting down, so things are looking good."
 
Gillispie broke 48 seconds for the first time this year, two weeks ago at the Triton Invitational.  Still needing to cut off more than a second to get back to his 2017 PR, Gillispie sees a big performance on the horizon.
 
"It gives me a lot of confidence because I know I can run that time and I feel like I'm a lot stronger and in a better place than where I was at this time two years ago.  But just trying to get that mentality back to have the confidence to run that hard of a time and be able to possibly win conference again and compete with the big guys in First Rounds.
 
"I just need that one good race, where everything kind of falls together like it did my sophomore year at conference.  I feel like that's all I need.  The strength is there, the work is there, it just needs to be executed."
 
That sophomore race was something special.  Gillispie set his personal best in the 400-meters during the prelims, running 47.08 seconds to lead the pack.
 
He then set a better PR to win the finals at 46.52 seconds. 
 
Duplicating that time will almost certainly qualify Gillispie for the NCAA First Rounds, and get him back to the national stage.  But of course, he has loftier goals than that.
 
"I'm hoping to get into the 45 seconds in the 400, get that national qualifying mark and get to First Rounds.
 
"And then hopefully get into the finals.  If not this year, then next year."
 
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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.