Two Standouts Redshirt

Tawanda Chiwira and Dusty Lane, two top names in area track and field, will redshirt this outdoor season.

Chiwira, University of Idaho’s record-setting sprinter, has not fully recovered after breaking his foot at last month’s national indoor championships. Lane, the up-and-coming decathlete at Community Colleges of Spokane, will spend his spring concentrating on academics.

The loss of Chiwira breaks up Idaho’s record-setting 1,600-meter relay team and may keep the Vandals from winning their fourth straight outdoor conference team title.

“It’ll be scary for us, but I think we can still be in the top three this year,” coach Mike Keller said.

Chiwira holds school records in the 200 indoor (21.15), 400 indoor (46.72) and 400 outdoor (45.30). He’ll return next fall with one indoor and two outdoor seasons of eligibility left.

“We could probably have him back in another three weeks,” Keller said, “but not close to full strength. If the guy was a 50-second quarter-miler, I’d probably use him, but he’s too good to waste a year.”

Chiwira had teamed in recent seasons with Jason St. Hill, Felix Kamangiria and Chris Kwaramba to give Idaho one of the nation’s best 1,600 relay teams. St. Hill and Kamangiria are seniors.

Record-setters

CCS sophomores Shawn Beitelspacher and Erika Colin posted national-qualifying times at last weekend’s Stanford Invitational.

Beitelspacher finished eighth out of 37 runners in the men’s 5,000. His time of 14 minutes, 3.03 seconds set a school record.

Oregon’s Micah Davis, formerly of Mead High School, was 12th in 14:06.1 - a personal record by 11 seconds.

Colin finished 16th among 40 runners in the women’s 5,000. Her 17:12.42 was just ahead of Washington State’s Megan Maynard (17:14.46).

WSU, Oregon set for dual

WSU and Oregon meet Saturday in Eugene in a dual meet that will be televised Sunday at 1:30 on Fox Sports.

The Cougars eked out one-point victories over the Ducks last season in Pullman, thanks largely to WSU’s dominance in the women’s sprints and a controversial ruling in the men’s 200. WSU may have a tougher time winning in Eugene.

“They’re at least 10 points better at home,” WSU coach Rick Sloan said.

The steeplechase, featuring Oregon’s Davis and WSU’s Bernard Lagat, figures to be interesting. Davis is a veteran steepler, but Lagat, a six-time All-American, will be making his college debut in the event.

Lagat specializes in the 800, 1,500 and 5,000 meters.

Whitworth qualifies two

Whitworth’s Miranda Phygesen and Danielle Swift have qualified for the NAIA national championships, to be held next month at Tulsa, Okla.

Phygesen ran a 2:15.3 in the 800; Swift, a sophomore from Valley Christian High School, threw the javelin 142 feet, 5 inches. Both marks were set at last month’s Tri-City Sports Festival in Richland.