Paoli and Zywina delivered standout performances on May 15 during the third day of the 2026 Big Sky Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Portland, Oregon. Paoli won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:50.89, breaking a school record that had stood for 23 years. Her finish is currently the sixth fastest in the nation this season and places her second in the west region rankings.
Zywina secured victory in the women’s long jump with an opening leap of 5.98 meters, which held as the best mark throughout the event. This win marks Idaho’s first title in this event since 2019. Zywina previously earned two Cascade Conference triple jump titles while competing for Lewis-Clark State.
Idaho athletes continued to score points across several events. The women’s jumps team, ranked nationally at number twenty-five entering the weekend, placed multiple competitors in top positions to earn fourteen points from long jump alone. In javelin, Sturgis finished second under challenging conditions with a throw of 73.21 meters (240 feet, two inches), placing him tenth among western region throwers.
Vandal throwers claimed four out of eight scoring spots in women’s javelin and added more points through strong showings by Caden Hottman and others in men’s hammer throw events. Senior athletes also contributed valuable points; one took sixth place in men’s long jump with a mark of 7.14 meters.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s finals, nine Idaho athletes have qualified for final heats across sprints and hurdles after advancing through preliminary rounds on Friday. The day will begin with men’s discus followed by track events featuring Idaho’s women’s relay teams.
