Eastern travels to Nampa, Idaho, to perform in top-notch facility on Saturday

The Eastern Washington University track teams will get a change of scenery this weekend, taking a break from Seattle and heading east to Nampa, Idaho, to compete in the Bronco Open Saturday (Feb. 5) hosted by Boise State University.

Field events will start at 8 a.m. Pacific time with the women's high jump. The men's 60-meter hurdles will launch the running events at 10 a.m.

The Idaho Jackson Indoor Track features a six-lane, 200-meter track with banked corners. The mondo synthetic surface is considered by many to create a high-class performing condition. Boise State will host the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships.

 Standout Brad Wall, who was named Big Sky Athlete of the Week after his first competition of the indoor season, has qualified for conference in both the 200 and the 400. He has yet to run on a banked track this indoor season.  The last time he ran on a similar surface was a year ago at the Big Sky Conference indoor championships. He placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 48.28 to place him eighth on Eastern's all-time best list. The junior won the event at the outdoor conference championships to set a new school record.

"I think Brad will run faster this week," said head men's coach Stan Kerr. "There will be a great lineup of 400 runners that will push him. He won't be running the 200 at this meet, which will set him up for a high-quality race."

Freshman Angelica Rodriguez will be an athlete to watch from the women's team this weekend. The Hermiston, Ore., native qualified for the conference championships in the 800 during her last competition at the UW Invitational. She ran a time of 2:15.67 to place her fifth on Eastern's all-time best list.

"I'm looking forward to competing at the Bronco Open," said women's head coach Marcia Mecklenburg. "It is a venue that we haven't competed at in a while. Because of that, I think our athletes are going to be excited. I believe they are going into this meet ready to perform."

The Eagles will head back to Seattle next weekend (Feb. 11-12) for their third competition at the University of Washington this season. The Husky Classic will be the last opportunity for athletes to qualify for the conference championships, which will be held in Pocatello, Idaho Feb. 25-26. 17 qualifying standards have been met by Eastern athletes this season.

Previous Meet – Jan. 25-26 – UW Invitational, Seattle, Wash.

Results- http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/c-track/stats/2010-2011/2011uwinviteheats.html

Upcoming Meet – Feb. 5 – Boise Open, Nampa, Idaho

Meet Information- http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=204826150

Men's Qualifiers/Records

Big Sky Championships - Feb. 25-26 in Pocatello, Idaho

NCAA Championships - March 11-12, 2011 in College Station, Texas

NCAA Championships Automatic Qualifying Standard Met: None

NCAA Championships Provisional Qualifying Standard Met: None

School Records Broken: None

Total Big Sky Championships Qualifying Marks Attained: Nine (New: Two)

High Jump – 6-7 - Stephen Praast - Ravensdale, Wash. (Tahoma HS '06)

High Jump – 6-6 3/4 - Thomas Kassa - Anacortes, Wash. (Anacortes HS '10)

Heptathlon – 4,794 - Tim Armstrong - Spokane, Wash. (East Valley HS '06 CC of Spokane) 

Triple Jump – 45-11 1/2 – Andre Moore – Kent, Wash. (Kent Meridian HS '08)

55 Hurdles – 7.81 - Steven Warner - Kent, Wash. (Kentwood HS '09)

200 Meters – 22.19 – Brad Wall - Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '08)

400 Meters – 48.23 – Brad Wall – Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS '08)

800 Meters – 1:53.95 – Tim Pettit – Covington, Wash. (Kentwood HS '10)

3,000 Meters – 8:16.89 – Kyle King – Coupeville, Wash. (Coupeville HS '08)

Women's Qualifiers/Records

Big Sky Championships - Feb. 25-26 in Pocatello, Idaho

NCAA Championships - March 11-12, 2011 in College Station, Texas 

NCAA Championships Automatic Qualifying Standard Met: None

NCAA Championships Provisional Qualifying Standard Met: None 

School Records Broken: None

Total Big Sky Championships Qualifying Marks Attained: Eight (New: One)

High Jump – 5-4 - Elise Jepsen - Kennwick, Wash., (Kamiakin HS '09)

Triple Jump – 37-1 1/4 – Elise Jepsen - Kennwick, Wash., (Kamiakin HS '09)

Triple Jump – 37-1 3/4 – Morena Mannucci – Rome, Italy (Anco Marzio HS '10)

Long Jump - 18-5 1/4 - Krystal Deyo - Castle Rock, Wash. (Castle Rock HS '06)

Pole Vault - 11-5 3/4 – Chloe Hall - Kennewick, Wash. (Southridge HS '09)

Shot Put – 44-8 1/4 – Erica Chaney - Spokane, Wash (Gonzaga Prep '06)

Weight Throw – 54-10 1/4 – Erica Chaney – Spokane, Wash. (Gonzaga Prep HS '06)

800 Meters – 1:15.67 – Angelica Rodriguez – Hermiston, Wash. (Hermiston HS '10)