(MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference has named Montana State University Billings junior Isaiah Girard conference player of the week for his performance in high jump at the Jacksons Nike Indoor Invitational last weekend in Nampa, Idaho.
Girard (Dillon, Montana) set an MSUB school record for indoor high jump last weekend when he cleared six feet, nine inches. He bested Chuck Carr who jumped six feet eight inches in 2017. Girard landed in second place overall in high jump in Nampa, behind only Hunter Simonsen of Division I Utah State, who cleared seven feet, zero inches. Girard also holds the MSUB outdoor school high jump record, which he set last spring at six feet, 7.5 inches. His NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark is tied for No. 18 in Division II this year. Girard is also in a tie for seventh on the GNAC all-time list.
“Isaiah had a great week of high jump,” commented MSUB head track and field coach Jon Woehl. “He’s worked incredibly hard over the past few years and it’s starting to pay off. I’m excited to see him compete again in a couple weeks at the GNAC Championships.
Girard also competed in long jump in Nampa and came in 13th place behind teammate Beau Ackerman with a mark of 21’ 6.25”.
Girard began the indoor season with a high jump of 6’ 3.5” at the Bobcat Preview and has improved his top mark in each of four events since, culminating in his record breaking performance on Saturday.
Last season Girard was named NCAA Division II all-west region for indoor high jump as well as all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference for high jump in both indoor and outdoor events. Girard placed third at the GNAC Championships in the high jump and seventh in the conference meet in the long jump at a distance of 21’ 6.75”. He is also listed as a middle distance runner and ran the 4×400 meter relay at five meets last season, including the Yellowjacket Open.
Girard became the second member of the MSUB track and field team to win GNAC player of the week after Mark Hovland won on December 3, 2018. Including Girard, the Yellowjackets have had 11 athletes win GNAC player of the week for all sports this season. MSU Billings track and field will compete in the GNAC Indoor Championships February 15-16 in Nampa, Idaho.
