Idaho track and field finished the 2026 Big Sky Outdoor Championship on May 16 with the women’s team placing fourth, matching their best result since 2014. The performance was highlighted by Sydnie Zywina, who became the first Idaho athlete to win both the long jump and triple jump in a single year, and Ashley Hollenbeck Willems, who medaled in three sprint events.
The achievement marks a significant moment for Idaho’s program as it continues to develop. The Director of Track and Field said, “What a weekend for Idaho track and field! I was super proud of all our athletes and our teams’ performances! I was really excited to see improvement in our programs from last year to this year. We are still a new program [with our] coaches and athletes, and we will continue to improve. One thing that I felt was instrumental to our success was our depth across a variety of events – that is what track is all about! Highlighting today was certainly Sydnie – anytime you can win both triple and long jump, that is something that not many athletes can do! It was great to see our 4×4’s finish out the meet with great performances! 2026 was a great stepping stone for our program, and I’m excited to see what the future of Vandal track and field holds! As we always say in our program, it’s a GREAT day to be a Vandal!!”
Zywina built on her earlier long jump victory by excelling again in the triple jump finals. She broke past the 12-meter mark twice during her attempts before winning with her final leap of 12.47 meters (40 feet, 11 inches). In doing so, she became only the second woman in Big Sky history to achieve wins in both jumping events at an outdoor meet.
Hollenbeck Willems ended her college career by earning bronze medals in both the women’s 100- and 200-meter races after helping secure silver as part of Idaho’s morning relay team. Other strong showings included top finishes from sprinters Madden—who placed fourth in the women’s 100m final—and solid contributions from throwers such as Tengattini on the men’s side.
The Vandals’ four individual titles were their most at any conference outdoor meet since their previous high-water mark twelve years ago. The women’s team’s final standing came after close competition with Montana that hinged on results from the concluding relay event.
Looking ahead, Idaho awaits national results later this month which will determine qualifiers for NCAA West First Round competitions.
