(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
BOZEMAN – The Montana State track and field teams continued their strong efforts this season by controlling events throughout the Bobcat Invitational on Friday, Feb. 2, inside of Worthington Arena. The Bobcat men’s and women’s squads combined for over 33 lifetime bests and eight program top-10 marks were altered over the course of the meet.
“Our kids really found a lot of competition amongst themselves and they really pushed themselves,” Montana State head coach Dale Kennedy said. “There were a lot of lifetime and season-best marks and you wouldn’t have expected that tonight.”
Multiple Bobcats found their way into the program record book with their performances Friday.
Freshman Trisha Carlson led the way for the Bobcat women in the 800-meter run with a first-place finish in a converted time of 2 minutes, 11.97 seconds, due to altitude and track size. That moved her to sixth all-time in the event. Anna French placed first in the 5,000 in a lifetime-best converted mark of 16:42.67, which was just tenths of a second away from moving from fifth to fourth among Bobcat runners.
Junior Jadin Casey continued his strong 2018 indoor season for the men’s team. He improved to fourth all-time in the 200 by taking first in a time of 22.15. Freshman Parker Walton followed him in second (22.16) and his finish put him at ninth among Bobcats in the event.
Both Cameron Carroll and Ty Mogan notched the fastest times in the Big Sky Conference to this point in their respective races. Carroll’s 800 converted to 1:51.17 and Mogan’s 5,000 converted to 14:15.84, which put both seventh in Bobcat history in each event.
Wyatt Thompson-Siporen jumped into a tie for fifth all-time in the pole vault by clearing 16-06.75 (5.05m). He finished ahead of teammate Luke Middelstadt who earned a lifetime-best mark of 15-11.00 (4.85m). The two currently have the second and third top vaults in the Big Sky Conference.
Sophomore Alec Nehring moved one spot up in the men’s shot put all-time top 10 list. Nehring completed a throw of 56-08.50 (17.28m) for first place in the event, but also placed him ninth in the MSU record book.
Capturing personal best times and marks on the men’s side were Riley Collins, Chris Bianchini, Collin Buck, Brock Butcher, Brandon Hough, Drake Schneider and Jared Schwend, while Caleb Neth completed two competing in the 60 dash and pole vault. Noah Martin earned a victory in the high jump, Calvin Root had the longest mark in the weight throw, while Schneider also finished first in the 400.
Morgan Evans, Annalise Long, Rachael McGree and Hailey Phillips each recorded two lifetime bests during the meet for the Bobcat women’s team.
Lexi Kyro, Kendra Larson, Maddie Lee, Kaylee Oyler, Brookelyn Palin, Adeline Richardson, Joby Rosenleaf, Jaycie Schmalzand Jazmin Wilberg all had at least a personal best in one of their respective events. Picking up event victories during Friday’s meet for MSU were Truanne Roginske, Elisabeth Krieger, Carter Theade, Rosenleaf and Evans.
“I think we have a lot to be encouraged about,” Kennedy said. “Who would have thought the momentum we’ve had this season would continue into tonight honestly? I thought maybe next week since we have the four Division I teams together would be when we hit our stride, but this just shows we’re moving in the right direction.
“I like what I’m seeing with our kids. We have a pretty positive climate right now and we just need to build on this and use this meet as a build up for next week, because that meet will be a higher level of competition.”
Montana State returns to action on Friday, Feb. 9, when the Bobcats host Idaho State, Weber State and Montana in a dual-scoring meet. Field events are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. followed by track events starting at approximately 5 p.m.
