(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
TORRANCE, California- Senior Diego Leon continued his stellar final season representing the Montana State track and field program with one of the top performances of his Bobcat career. The distance runner broke the school record in the 5,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC Relays at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium on Friday, April 20.
Leon finished sixth out of 36 Division I runners in the Invitational Elite field at the nationally-recognized meet in a time of 13 minutes, 39.89 seconds. That mark moved him all the way up to the program’s first spot on the event’s top 10 list, surpassing record holder Shannon Butler. The time by Butler (13:41.61) was set in 1991 in his run that helped him capture Montana State track and field’s first Division I outdoor national championship.
Leon’s time also moves him into the top five among all NCAA West Region competitors this season and among the top 10 in the nation at this time.
Several other Bobcats also had strong performances for the Bobcats on Friday.
Sophomore Cameron Carroll finished fifth out of 43 competitors in the open division of the 1,500 at the Mt. SAC Relays. His time of 3:47.04 was a lifetime best and moved him to eighth all-time in program history
Noah Martin also competed at the Mt. SAC Relays. He finished third in the high jump by clearing 6-08.25 (2.04m).
Carley Vonheeder participated in the first day of the Beach Invitational in the women’s javelin. The sophomore had a top throw of 140-05 (42.80) to place 23rd overall.
Both Anna French and Ty Mogan are scheduled to still compete Friday evening in the 5,000, respectively, at the Mt. SAC Relays Friday evening.
The rest of the Bobcat track and field student-athletes will appear in the Beach Invitational at Long Beach State’s Jack Rose Track on Saturday.
