SPOKANE, Washington - The Idaho Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field squads wrapped up the Spokane Sports Showcase Friday afternoon at The Podium in Spokane, Washington. The 14-team field featured 12 Division-I schools. The Vandals had eight athletes achieve personal bests with five podium finishes in their 2024 indoor season opener.

"It was a good opener, just figuring out where we're at and getting an opportunity to compete again. I was proud of the Vandals," said Tim Cawley, Idaho's Director of Track and Field/Cross Country.

Idaho freshman Jana Willems started the morning at tenth in the women's 60m prelims. Willems crossed the tape at 7.63, the sixth fastest time in Vandal history.

On the men's side, Jurrian Hering (6.82) and Jemini Archer (6.88) finished fourth and seventh respectively, in the 60m finals. Hering ran a 6.80 in the preliminary rounds, marking the fourth fastest time in Idaho history. Archer's personal best of 6.85 in the prelims is good for fifth in the record books. 

Mia Sylvester, the 2023 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, opened with a fourth-place finish (16.60m) in the women's weight throw. Sylvester then capped the day off earning a gold medal in the women's shot put at 15.27m, the 20th best in the NCAA this year.

Sophomore Joe Reiber took fourth in the men's high jump at a 1.95m mark, while Dante Cox followed just behind in fifth, jumping 1.90m, a new personal best. 

Lorenz Herrmann picked up right where he left off from 2023 taking home his first gold medal of the year in the men's 800m. Herrmann's neck-and-neck finish at 1:50.62 found him just 0.03 seconds ahead of USC's Nathan Cumberbatch (1:50.65). The senior's first-place finish is the ninth fastest 800m time in the NCAA this season. Vandal sophomore Ethan Sturdivant finished third (1:54.40) while Zac Bright followed in sixth (1:54.84).

Freshman Hanna Tait achieved two PRs with a seventh-place finish in the women's 200m (24.80) and a 9.05 mark in the 60m hurdle prelims, both of which rank ninth in the Vandal record books.

McKenna Kozeluh was next to reach the podium for the Vandals in her indoor collegiate debut. The freshman standout took silver completing the women's 3000m at a 10:14.36 mark.

In the field, graduate student Simone Fedel earned silver medal honors in the men's triple jump. Fedel, of Casalino, Italy, jumped 14.05m, just 0.45 short of his personal best. 

The veteran women's 4x400m relay squad, consisting of Belen Garcia Arias, Olivia Martin, Franziska Stoehr, and Prabhasha Wickramaraachchi, finished 5th at a 3:48.37 mark, the tenth fastest in Idaho history. 

For the men, Evan Henkel, Ethan Sturdivant, Luca Wagner, and Gage Zanette completed the men's 4x400m relay at 3:30.68 for fourth place.

Noah Culbertson closed the day for the Vandals taking home gold in the men's shot put at 17.45m, 1.34m past second-place finisher Talon Holmquist of Montana State.

Looking ahead, the Vandals will compete at the Spokane Indoor Challenge tomorrow afternoon in the women's and men's 4x400m relays, also at The Podium in Spokane, Washington.

The Vandals then return home to host the Lauren McCluskey Memorial at the Lauren McCluskey Track in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome next week, Jan. 19th and 20th.

Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho track and field/cross country by following the team on Instagram and X, @IdahoTrack.