Bobcat Track Teams Open Outdoor Season
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Montana State's track and field squad heads west this weekend, with 11 student-athletes traveling to Stanford and the remainder of the men's and women's teams competing at the Montana Open in Missoula.
Most of Montana State's team opens the spring season in Missoula, where Bobcat and Grizzly athletes compete in a meet in a non-scoring competition. The Stanford Invitational features the nation's top track and field athletes. "This has really become a featured meet, especially in the distance events," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy.
Distance runners Casey Jermyn (5,000 meters) and Kevin Clary and Jonathan Gibson (3,000 m steeplechase) will compete in Friday's distance events. Josh Henigman (discus, hammer), Tanner Rauk (shot put, discus, hammer), Brad Sherer (hammer), and Leif Arthun and Joel Walthall (javelin) anchor the men's throws crew. Women's throwers Kim Berg (javelin), Hannah Furlong (shot put), and Ashley Jones (hammer, discus) also travel to Stanford.
"We are taking kids that have competed in the NCAA Regionals or the NCAA Championships" to the west coast this weekend, Kennedy said. "This is an elite meet, and we owe it to the kids that have competed at that high level to send them to this kind of meet."
Kennedy is also hoping for Regional qualifying marks for those athletes headed to California, particularly the distance runners. "This has become a real key meet for distance runners from all over the country," Kennedy said. "With the chance to run at sea level against top-notch competition, this is an important early-season meet. I'd like to see those kids hit (NCAA) Regional marks, or minimally Big Sky (qualifying) marks."
The weekend's competition also gives Kennedy and his squads a benchmark with which to begin the outdoor season. "It's a starting point," the veteran coach said. "It's a beginning. You always want to get through it healthy and then improve from week to week."
Montana State decathletes compete in Missoula on Friday, while most of the team begins the season Saturday. The MSU distance crew competes late Friday at Stanford, while the throwers compete Friday and Saturday.
Montana State returns to Missoula next weekend, April 2, for the Al Manuel Dual Meet Invitational.
Most of Montana State's team opens the spring season in Missoula, where Bobcat and Grizzly athletes compete in a meet in a non-scoring competition. The Stanford Invitational features the nation's top track and field athletes. "This has really become a featured meet, especially in the distance events," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy.
Distance runners Casey Jermyn (5,000 meters) and Kevin Clary and Jonathan Gibson (3,000 m steeplechase) will compete in Friday's distance events. Josh Henigman (discus, hammer), Tanner Rauk (shot put, discus, hammer), Brad Sherer (hammer), and Leif Arthun and Joel Walthall (javelin) anchor the men's throws crew. Women's throwers Kim Berg (javelin), Hannah Furlong (shot put), and Ashley Jones (hammer, discus) also travel to Stanford.
"We are taking kids that have competed in the NCAA Regionals or the NCAA Championships" to the west coast this weekend, Kennedy said. "This is an elite meet, and we owe it to the kids that have competed at that high level to send them to this kind of meet."
Kennedy is also hoping for Regional qualifying marks for those athletes headed to California, particularly the distance runners. "This has become a real key meet for distance runners from all over the country," Kennedy said. "With the chance to run at sea level against top-notch competition, this is an important early-season meet. I'd like to see those kids hit (NCAA) Regional marks, or minimally Big Sky (qualifying) marks."
The weekend's competition also gives Kennedy and his squads a benchmark with which to begin the outdoor season. "It's a starting point," the veteran coach said. "It's a beginning. You always want to get through it healthy and then improve from week to week."
Montana State decathletes compete in Missoula on Friday, while most of the team begins the season Saturday. The MSU distance crew competes late Friday at Stanford, while the throwers compete Friday and Saturday.
Montana State returns to Missoula next weekend, April 2, for the Al Manuel Dual Meet Invitational.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
