THE INSIDE TRACK | GALLERY

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Track and Field program is thrilled to announce the signing of Belen Garcia Arias of O Barco de Valdeorras in the Galicia region of Spain. She has competed for the ADAS Proinor athletics club.

Belen is one of the better hurdlers to come out of Spain. Her personal best of 43.73 in the 300m hurdles is the third fastest all-time mark for an athlete under the age of 16 in the entire country of Spain. It is also a mark that would have ranked her top 20 in the country in the United States during the 2019 season in her class. Her personal best of 1:01.54 in the 400m hurdles would have ranked her top 10 in the country among her class in both the 2019 and 2020 season. She also has a personal best of 14.59 in the 100m hurdles.

Belen has also placed highly at national and re­gional competitions. She was the 2020 U18 National Champion in the 400m hurdles. During the 2018 season, Belen placed second at the Spanish U16 National Cham­pionships in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.80 and also placed second in the Spanish U16 National Champion­ships in the 300m hurdles in a time of 43.88.

"We are really excited to add Belen to the Vandal family. She brings a lot of confidence with her, both on the track and in the classroom. She is going to fit in fantastically with the team," said Tim Cawley, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country.