Emma Stolte qualified for the finals in the women’s 800 meters at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, held at Idaho State’s ICCU Dome in Pocatello, Idaho. Stolte finished her preliminary heat in 2:09.65, securing an automatic spot in Saturday’s final after passing Odessa Zentz at the finish line. Her time is now the second fastest indoor 800-meter performance in Portland State history, behind only her own school record of 2:08.51 set earlier this season.
Daniel Coppedge broke his own school record in the men’s weight throw with a distance of 59-06.25 (18.14m) on his third attempt during Friday’s opening flight. This was Coppedge’s second time improving the record this season, adding more than three and a half feet to his previous bests combined. Despite winning his flight, he did not advance to the final after being pushed to tenth place overall.
Aidan Sweeney narrowly missed qualifying for the men’s 60-meter hurdles final by one-thousandth of a second but improved his personal best to 8.38 seconds, moving up to seventh all-time at Portland State in that event.
The Vikings’ men’s distance medley relay team—Abdinajib Abade, Zach Payne, JD Arthur, and Ari Smith—placed seventh with a time of 10:19.34, which ranks as the tenth fastest mark in school history for that event.
Overall, Portland State athletes achieved numerous personal bests during Friday’s events. Eighteen out of twenty-nine individual entries either set or tied their previous records across sprints and field events for both men and women.
In sprints, freshman Jack Macdonald matched his personal best of 6.93 seconds in the men’s 60 meters and improved his 200-meter time to 21.72 seconds—moving him up to third all-time at Portland State and second among freshmen for that event. Dillon Brost also posted new personal records in both sprint distances.
For women’s sprints and hurdles, Sienna Rosario set or tied her bests in both the 60 meters (7.78 seconds) and 200 meters (25.59 seconds). Savannah Beasley led with a new personal best of 25.57 seconds in the women’s 200 meters and also improved her mark in the hurdles.
In field events, Jackson Mathers added over fourteen inches to his long jump performance with a leap of 21-07.25 (6.58m). Ocean Rideout and Akanesi Latu-Alves each set new marks on their side of long jump competition as well.
Natalie Fisher increased her weight throw distance by three-and-a-half feet compared to last week’s meet; she now stands third among freshmen at Portland State behind teammate Avonlea Edwards.
The Vikings will continue competing Saturday with Stolte returning for finals along with other qualifiers from Friday’s performances.
