Bobcat Track Teams Head to Regionals
5/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
THIS WEEK’S ACTION
Montana State heads to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in Norman, Okla., this weekend. Twenty-four Bobcats compete this weekend for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Field events in Oklahoma begin Friday at 11 am, while running events begin at 3 pm.
Bobcat Notebook
Title Talk
Montana State brought its first Big Sky Men’s Championship to Bozeman last week. MSU won the title in dominant fashion, scoring 169 points to Weber State’s 113. MSU had not won a trackt title since the Rocky Mountain Conference championship in 1939.
Athlete of the Meet
Junior Erin Jones (Harlowton) not only became MSU’s first heptathlon champion, but won Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Meet honors for the second time. She also earned 2004 Indoor kudos. Jones also claimed silver medal honors in the 100 meter hurdles.
Sprints Spectacular
Montana State entered the 2005 Big Sky Championships having never won a league sprint or relay title. That is no longer the case. Steve Heberly won the Big Sky 200 meter title and Ty Norris won the 400 meter crown. The two joined Dan Johnson and Michael Novotny to capture the 4x400 sprints title, as well. In all, Montana State scored one-third of its winning total of 169 points (59) in the three sprints and the relays.
Historic Marks
Montana State athletes broke a handful of school records during this outdoor season. Steve Heberly broke a seven-year old 200 mark (21.38), and Ty Norris broke a 22-year old record in the 400 (47.19). The two combined to help set a new 4x400 relay mark (3:12.84) for the first time in 22 years. Josh Henigman topped MSU’s 21-year old discus mark (209-4), while Ashley Jones’ 202-7 broke MSU’s 11-month old hammer mark.
Standing Strong
A pair of Bobcats have strong chances to advance to the NCAA Championships regardless of what happens at the regional meet. Ashley Jones is ranked in the top 15 in the women’s hammer nationally, and Erin Jones is 28th.
INDOOR SCHEDULE
Date Competition Men/Women
J10-11 MSU Multi-Events NTS/NTS
J21 MSU Open NTS/NTS
J28 -Montana 77-73/85-65
F4-5 Mountain States NTS
F11 -Montana 76-71/79-68
-Weber State 75-63/60-79
-Idaho State 62-85/58-91
F18 Bobcat Open NTS
F25-26 Big Sky Meet 3rd/4th
M4-5 ISU Last Chance NTS
DALE KENNEDY QUOTES
“This is an exciting time, working with the kids who have achieved at a really high level and have the opportunity to compete for a chance to go to the NCAA Championships. The (men’s) Big Sky Championship was a thrill, and was a reward for a lot of hard work. Those sprinters did a fantastic job, they really carried the mail. The distance kids, although they’ve struggled with injuries, really came through. That is a senior, veteran bunch, and they did what they had to do for the team. I know Casey and Kevin didn’t reach their individual goals, but this program will always be indebted to them and I will always be proud of them. The throwers, as always, were awesome. Josh Henigman had a great meet, and they all stepped up. We had some outstanding performances on the women’s side, as well. Erin Jones, Ashley Jones, Ellie Rudy, and Erin Jones each won championships, and the team out-performed expectations. It was an outstanding meet. We’ll need to deal with the magnitude of this meet, and with the heat in Oklahoma, but I’m excited to take such a talented, and such a young group of kids, to a regional meet.”
OUTDOOR SCHEDULE
Date Competition Men/Women
M25-26 Stanford Inv./UM Open
A1-2 at Montana 98-98/123-75
EWU 88-105/121-78
ISU 95-96/103-96
A7-9 Weber St Inv NTS/NTS
A15-17 Mt. SAC Relays NTS/NTS
A16 MSU Invitational NTS/NTS
A21-23 Oregon Invitational NTS/NTS
A30 Cat-Griz Dual 105-90/113-90
M6 Tom Gage Classic NTS
M11-14 Big Sky Meet 1st/3rd
M27-28 NCAA Midwest Reg. Norman
J9-11 NCAA Championships Sac’to
BOBCAT COACHING STAFF
DALE KENNEDY, head track/cross country coach
Dale Kennedy is in his 24th year as MSU’s women’s coach, his third as coach of the combined program... was Women’s Big Sky Coach of the Year for the 2001 indoor and ‘03 outdoor seasons, and Men’s COY in ‘05... has led MSU to two women’s XC titles this decade, and has led the Lady Cats to three conference track titles and a pair of runnerup finishes... has produced five All-Americas and 17 NCAA qualifiers.
MIKE CARIGNAN, throws
In his 22nd year at MSU... has coached 45 athletes to all-Big Sky honors... MSU’s throwers led the Big Sky in points in 2002 and ‘03... MSU became the first Big Sky school in history to hold the top five spots in one event during the 2004 Big Sky Indoor women’s shot put competition.
TOM EITEL, jumps/multis
In 11th year at MSU... MSU vaulter from ‘79-82... won the ‘82 Big Sky pole vault title... has coached 42 all-conference athletes and 18 different league champs, including the highest male and female vaulters in Big Sky history... coached athletes to Big Sky meet records in 2 men’s and 5 women’s events
LACY HINZPETER, sprints
Second year coaching sprints... won six Big Sky titles... set league record for points scored in indoor championship competition.
Montana State heads to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in Norman, Okla., this weekend. Twenty-four Bobcats compete this weekend for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Field events in Oklahoma begin Friday at 11 am, while running events begin at 3 pm.
Bobcat Notebook
Title Talk
Montana State brought its first Big Sky Men’s Championship to Bozeman last week. MSU won the title in dominant fashion, scoring 169 points to Weber State’s 113. MSU had not won a trackt title since the Rocky Mountain Conference championship in 1939.
Athlete of the Meet
Junior Erin Jones (Harlowton) not only became MSU’s first heptathlon champion, but won Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Meet honors for the second time. She also earned 2004 Indoor kudos. Jones also claimed silver medal honors in the 100 meter hurdles.
Sprints Spectacular
Montana State entered the 2005 Big Sky Championships having never won a league sprint or relay title. That is no longer the case. Steve Heberly won the Big Sky 200 meter title and Ty Norris won the 400 meter crown. The two joined Dan Johnson and Michael Novotny to capture the 4x400 sprints title, as well. In all, Montana State scored one-third of its winning total of 169 points (59) in the three sprints and the relays.
Historic Marks
Montana State athletes broke a handful of school records during this outdoor season. Steve Heberly broke a seven-year old 200 mark (21.38), and Ty Norris broke a 22-year old record in the 400 (47.19). The two combined to help set a new 4x400 relay mark (3:12.84) for the first time in 22 years. Josh Henigman topped MSU’s 21-year old discus mark (209-4), while Ashley Jones’ 202-7 broke MSU’s 11-month old hammer mark.
Standing Strong
A pair of Bobcats have strong chances to advance to the NCAA Championships regardless of what happens at the regional meet. Ashley Jones is ranked in the top 15 in the women’s hammer nationally, and Erin Jones is 28th.
INDOOR SCHEDULE
Date Competition Men/Women
J10-11 MSU Multi-Events NTS/NTS
J21 MSU Open NTS/NTS
J28 -Montana 77-73/85-65
F4-5 Mountain States NTS
F11 -Montana 76-71/79-68
-Weber State 75-63/60-79
-Idaho State 62-85/58-91
F18 Bobcat Open NTS
F25-26 Big Sky Meet 3rd/4th
M4-5 ISU Last Chance NTS
DALE KENNEDY QUOTES
“This is an exciting time, working with the kids who have achieved at a really high level and have the opportunity to compete for a chance to go to the NCAA Championships. The (men’s) Big Sky Championship was a thrill, and was a reward for a lot of hard work. Those sprinters did a fantastic job, they really carried the mail. The distance kids, although they’ve struggled with injuries, really came through. That is a senior, veteran bunch, and they did what they had to do for the team. I know Casey and Kevin didn’t reach their individual goals, but this program will always be indebted to them and I will always be proud of them. The throwers, as always, were awesome. Josh Henigman had a great meet, and they all stepped up. We had some outstanding performances on the women’s side, as well. Erin Jones, Ashley Jones, Ellie Rudy, and Erin Jones each won championships, and the team out-performed expectations. It was an outstanding meet. We’ll need to deal with the magnitude of this meet, and with the heat in Oklahoma, but I’m excited to take such a talented, and such a young group of kids, to a regional meet.”
OUTDOOR SCHEDULE
Date Competition Men/Women
M25-26 Stanford Inv./UM Open
A1-2 at Montana 98-98/123-75
EWU 88-105/121-78
ISU 95-96/103-96
A7-9 Weber St Inv NTS/NTS
A15-17 Mt. SAC Relays NTS/NTS
A16 MSU Invitational NTS/NTS
A21-23 Oregon Invitational NTS/NTS
A30 Cat-Griz Dual 105-90/113-90
M6 Tom Gage Classic NTS
M11-14 Big Sky Meet 1st/3rd
M27-28 NCAA Midwest Reg. Norman
J9-11 NCAA Championships Sac’to
BOBCAT COACHING STAFF
DALE KENNEDY, head track/cross country coach
Dale Kennedy is in his 24th year as MSU’s women’s coach, his third as coach of the combined program... was Women’s Big Sky Coach of the Year for the 2001 indoor and ‘03 outdoor seasons, and Men’s COY in ‘05... has led MSU to two women’s XC titles this decade, and has led the Lady Cats to three conference track titles and a pair of runnerup finishes... has produced five All-Americas and 17 NCAA qualifiers.
MIKE CARIGNAN, throws
In his 22nd year at MSU... has coached 45 athletes to all-Big Sky honors... MSU’s throwers led the Big Sky in points in 2002 and ‘03... MSU became the first Big Sky school in history to hold the top five spots in one event during the 2004 Big Sky Indoor women’s shot put competition.
TOM EITEL, jumps/multis
In 11th year at MSU... MSU vaulter from ‘79-82... won the ‘82 Big Sky pole vault title... has coached 42 all-conference athletes and 18 different league champs, including the highest male and female vaulters in Big Sky history... coached athletes to Big Sky meet records in 2 men’s and 5 women’s events
LACY HINZPETER, sprints
Second year coaching sprints... won six Big Sky titles... set league record for points scored in indoor championship competition.
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