Bobcats Reap Rewards of Outstanding Weekend
5/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Erin Jones and Dale Kennedy had some hardware to lug back from Northern Arizona and the Big Sky Conference Track and Field Championships last weekend, but neither one minded a bit.
Jones, a junior from Harlowton, walked away with Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Meet honors for the second time in her career, the first at an Outdoor Championship. Jones is Montana State's fourth Big Sky Outdoor Athlete of the Meet honoree on the women's side, and MSU has now won the award four straight years.
Montana State's first-ever heptathlon champion, Jones joins Christy Otte as the only Bobcat women to win athlete-of-the-meet honors indoors and outdoors. Her 5,191 points was a school record, as well.
Kennedy escorted the Bobcat team trophy back to Bozeman. The men's team won Montana State's first-ever Big Sky track crown, and there was enough history going around. Steve Heberly's 200 meter championship is Montana State's first sprint title ever. Previously, the shortest race a Bobcat had ever won at a championship competition, indoors or outdoors, was Shawn Fouhy's 800 meter title in 1994. Montana State also won its first-ever relay title last weekend.
While the Bobcat men celebrated their historic title, the women's team also posted an outstanding weekend. "Our women really made a strong run at it," Kennedy said. He indicated that early scores reported at the Big Sky meet had MSU finish with 129.75 points, 20 behind NAU's winning total, but the 'Cats were actually much closer. "One score went out before triple jump was scored," he said.
The final score had Weber State at 150.75, NAU at 147.5, and MSU at 141.75. That is the narrowest spread in league history between first and third place.
Montana State's season does not end with the Big Sky crown. Eighteen Bobcats advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional in two weekends, including four new qualifiers last weekend.
Jones, a junior from Harlowton, walked away with Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Meet honors for the second time in her career, the first at an Outdoor Championship. Jones is Montana State's fourth Big Sky Outdoor Athlete of the Meet honoree on the women's side, and MSU has now won the award four straight years.
Montana State's first-ever heptathlon champion, Jones joins Christy Otte as the only Bobcat women to win athlete-of-the-meet honors indoors and outdoors. Her 5,191 points was a school record, as well.
Kennedy escorted the Bobcat team trophy back to Bozeman. The men's team won Montana State's first-ever Big Sky track crown, and there was enough history going around. Steve Heberly's 200 meter championship is Montana State's first sprint title ever. Previously, the shortest race a Bobcat had ever won at a championship competition, indoors or outdoors, was Shawn Fouhy's 800 meter title in 1994. Montana State also won its first-ever relay title last weekend.
While the Bobcat men celebrated their historic title, the women's team also posted an outstanding weekend. "Our women really made a strong run at it," Kennedy said. He indicated that early scores reported at the Big Sky meet had MSU finish with 129.75 points, 20 behind NAU's winning total, but the 'Cats were actually much closer. "One score went out before triple jump was scored," he said.
The final score had Weber State at 150.75, NAU at 147.5, and MSU at 141.75. That is the narrowest spread in league history between first and third place.
Montana State's season does not end with the Big Sky crown. Eighteen Bobcats advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional in two weekends, including four new qualifiers last weekend.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
