SPOKANE, Wash. - Coming off of a strong indoor season that featured multiple all-conference finishes, Idaho Track and Field started the second portion of the year at the first outdoor meet of 2026, the Sam Adams Classic in Spokane.
Among a pool of eight total teams, multiple Vandals kicked off the outdoor campaign with strong performances in the throws and short distance sprints. Lindi Kessinger (42.28m/138'08") and Evan Hartt (15.19m/49'10") brought home UI's first two top-three finishes of the day, each taking third in the discus and shot put, respectively. Kathryn Burnette followed that up with her first outdoor win of the year with a 13.96m (45'9.75") mark on her first attempt in the shot put.
The big throws kept coming from there for Idaho. Reigning indoor all-conference honoree Gioele Tengattini finished second in the discus with a mark of 52.10m (170'11") and Blake Sturgis dominated the javelin, recording a 66.62m (218'7") toss, the best of the day by nearly five full meters. Kessinger was the top performer for UI in the women's discus with a 42.28m (138'8") effort. Baylee Wroble won the women's javelin outright in her sophomore outdoor debut with a distance of 45.72m (150'), and Kessinger finished just behind her at 41.67m (136'8")
The top three of the hammer throw events were decorated with Vandals. On the men's side, Caden Hottman, Bradley Hottman, and Mason Andulajevic finished as a 1-2-3 trio, with Caden tossing a 60.12m (197'3"), Bradley recording a 58.40m (191'7"), and Andulajevic following up with 57.12m (187'05"). Ivy Smith finished second in the women's portion, measured at 47.41 (155'6").
Ashley Hollenbeck Willems and Keenan Kuntz led the black and gold to a pair of victories in the 100m. Willems put up a time of 11.96 seconds in her first outdoor meet of the year and Kuntz PR'd with a 10.36. The senior followed up with a 24.54 dash in the women's 200m to take home the gold in back to back sprints.
UP NEXT
The Vandals will make their way even further west next week, heading to Fresno State's West Coast Relays in Clovis, CA from Mar. 27-28.
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