Feb. 7, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's track and field teams will head to Nampa, Idaho Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9 to compete in the Bronco Invitational hosted by Boise State at the Idaho Sports Center.

The meet is held in the same location as the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Feb. 28-March 1.

Events are scheduled to begin Friday at 5:30 p.m. with the men's pole vault and will conclude that day at 8:20 p.m. with the women's 60m dash. Events will continue Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. with women's high jump and conclude that day at 2:20 p.m. with men and women's 4x400 relay. All events will take place at Jackson's Track.

The Aggie men will compete against Arizona State, Boise State, College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon and Northwest Nazarene.

The USU women will compete against Arizona State, Boise State, Nevada, Cal State Stanislaus, San Diego State, College of Idaho, VSA Track Club, San Francisco State, Eastern Oregon and Northwest Nazarene.

"I am very pleased with the progress our team has made this far in the season," USU head coach Greg Gensel said. "If each athlete can get better in one area every meet then as a coach, I am very satisfied."

Gensel said that his team took a "huge step" last week at the Air Force Invitational, where many of their young athletes performed well.

Highlighting the young athlete performances was freshman Maria Halton, who was named this week's America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week. Halton posted two personal-bests, including the second fastest time in school history in the 60 m with a 7.67, good for second-place, while her third-place time of 24.91 in the 200 is the 10th fastest time in school history. The 24.91 is the fastest in the WAC this season while the 7.67 is the fourth-fastest in the WAC this season.

Freshman Sonia Grabowska posted a personal-best in the pole vault with a height of 12-06.25, good for fifth-place. The 12-6.25 is the third-highest in USU history and the second-highest in the WAC this season.

For the men, freshman Silas Pimentel placed third in the 60m with a personal-best and WAC leading time of 6.78. Classmate Josef Canavan moved into second-place in the conference in the shot put with his personal-best distance of 54-02.50.

Next the Aggies will head to Seattle, Wash. to compete in the Washington Invitational Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16, in USU's final tune-up for the WAC Indoor Championships.

-USU-