Bobcat Tracksters Head to Regional Meet
5/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
When nine Bobcats begin competition in the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships at Austin, Tex., on Friday, most will know what to expect.
And to long-time Montana State track and field coach Dale Kennedy, that is a very good thing.
"Experience is such an important factor in a meet like this," Kennedy said, "and to understand going in the atmosphere and the routine is tremendously important. We have seen kids going back for repeat performances at regional and national meets perform better than expected."
As is customary, most of the action for Bobcat athletes at the University of Texas this weekend comes in the field events, Livingston's Dan Johnson competes in the 400 meters on the strength of a late-season 47.14 mark, the best in the Big Sky this spring. Kennedy is excited for Johnson. "Dan just keeps getting better and better. People see his marks and are impressed, but most people don't understand that he came to the sport late in high school, and that makes what he accomplishes really astounding."
Erin Jones-Graf nears the end of her sensational Bobcat career this weekend, as well, traveling to Austin for the 100 hurdles. Jones qualified for the NCAA Championships (June 7-10 at Sacrament) with her school-record mark at the Big Sky Championships, and Kennedy said the opportunity to compete at the regional meet in the hurdles provides a good training opportunity. "This has really given Erin a sense of urgency in her training routine, and has given her an opportunity to compete instead of having three straight weekends off," he said. "This is a great opportunity and a great reward for Erin."
As usual, a strong group of Bobcat throwers travels to the regional meet, led by senior Josh Henigman. A school record-holder and former conference champion, Henigman has fought injuries during his senior season. "It's been a difficult year for Josh," Kennedy said of the Bridger native whose apparent All-America throw of the 35-lb weight at the national indoor meet was wiped out by a disputed foul call. "He's really battled some adversity in injuries and different things, right up to this meet. But I look for him to put all that aside and have a fantastic meet."
Jesse Allen from Lewistown, the Big Sky hammer throw champion, makes his second NCAA Regional trip, competing in the shot and hammer. Senior javelin thrower Kelli Philip (Anaconda) and junior hammer thrower Ashley Jones (Harlowton) make repeat regional trips this weekend, with Jones shooting for her second straight NCAA Championships trip. Two Bobcat throwers also make NCAA Regional debuts this weekend. Nathan Palmer (Helena) competes in the hammer throw, while Bridger's Kylee Zent puts the shot.
Montana State sophomore Ellie Rudy enters the NCAA Midwest Regional meet with less on the line than any of her teammates. While Rudy guns for automatic entry into the NCAA Championships in the pole vault, her national standing gives her a strong possibility of gaining a wild card entry into the NCAA meet regardless of her performance this weekend. "Ellie is in good shape," Kennedy said, "but it's really best not to leave the decision up to someone else. She needs to take care of things this weekend."
Kennedy said MSU's large contingent of athletes enters the Regional Championships with high hopes. "Because experiencing this type of meet really gives you a leg up, it's always exciting when young kids that haven't been there before qualify," Kennedy said. "The Bobcats have some name-recognition in the Midwest Region, especially our throwers. We're not a Big 12 school that will bring an entire team to the regional meet, but people know about Montana State track and field, and that's exciting."
The top five finishers at each of the four NCAA regional meets qualify for the NCAA Championships, and after that six or seven competitors from every event based on their best mark of the season fill out the field. Jones-Graf and Rudy appear the two most likely Bobcat candidates for wild card entry into the national meet (all heptathletes are selected on a wild card basis).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR BOBCATS AT NCAA MIDWEST REGIONALS
MEN'S HAMMER THROW: 12 noon Friday -- Josh Henigman (196-1, 7th in Region/50th in Nation), Jesse Allen (194-6, 8th/55th), Nathan Palmer (183-5, 14th/96th)
WOMEN'S 100 HURDLES: 4 pm Friday -- Erin Jones-Graf (13.92 aa, 22nd/105th)
MEN'S DISCUS: 5 pm Friday -- Josh Henigman (172-3, 23rd/84th)
MEN'S 400: Trials 7 pm MDT Friday -- Dan Johnson (47.25 aa, 30th/111th)
MEN'S SHOT PUT: 2 pm Saturday -- Jesse Allen (55-8.5, 22nd/85th)
WOMEN'S POLE VAULT: 5 pm Saturday -- Ellie Rudy (13-6.25, T3rd/T14th)
WOMEN'S HAMMER THROW: 12 noon Saturday -- Ashley Jones (186-5, 13th/55th)
WOMEN'S JAVELIN: 2 pm Friday -- Kelli Philip (154-11, 15th/47th)
And to long-time Montana State track and field coach Dale Kennedy, that is a very good thing.
"Experience is such an important factor in a meet like this," Kennedy said, "and to understand going in the atmosphere and the routine is tremendously important. We have seen kids going back for repeat performances at regional and national meets perform better than expected."
As is customary, most of the action for Bobcat athletes at the University of Texas this weekend comes in the field events, Livingston's Dan Johnson competes in the 400 meters on the strength of a late-season 47.14 mark, the best in the Big Sky this spring. Kennedy is excited for Johnson. "Dan just keeps getting better and better. People see his marks and are impressed, but most people don't understand that he came to the sport late in high school, and that makes what he accomplishes really astounding."
Erin Jones-Graf nears the end of her sensational Bobcat career this weekend, as well, traveling to Austin for the 100 hurdles. Jones qualified for the NCAA Championships (June 7-10 at Sacrament) with her school-record mark at the Big Sky Championships, and Kennedy said the opportunity to compete at the regional meet in the hurdles provides a good training opportunity. "This has really given Erin a sense of urgency in her training routine, and has given her an opportunity to compete instead of having three straight weekends off," he said. "This is a great opportunity and a great reward for Erin."
As usual, a strong group of Bobcat throwers travels to the regional meet, led by senior Josh Henigman. A school record-holder and former conference champion, Henigman has fought injuries during his senior season. "It's been a difficult year for Josh," Kennedy said of the Bridger native whose apparent All-America throw of the 35-lb weight at the national indoor meet was wiped out by a disputed foul call. "He's really battled some adversity in injuries and different things, right up to this meet. But I look for him to put all that aside and have a fantastic meet."
Jesse Allen from Lewistown, the Big Sky hammer throw champion, makes his second NCAA Regional trip, competing in the shot and hammer. Senior javelin thrower Kelli Philip (Anaconda) and junior hammer thrower Ashley Jones (Harlowton) make repeat regional trips this weekend, with Jones shooting for her second straight NCAA Championships trip. Two Bobcat throwers also make NCAA Regional debuts this weekend. Nathan Palmer (Helena) competes in the hammer throw, while Bridger's Kylee Zent puts the shot.
Montana State sophomore Ellie Rudy enters the NCAA Midwest Regional meet with less on the line than any of her teammates. While Rudy guns for automatic entry into the NCAA Championships in the pole vault, her national standing gives her a strong possibility of gaining a wild card entry into the NCAA meet regardless of her performance this weekend. "Ellie is in good shape," Kennedy said, "but it's really best not to leave the decision up to someone else. She needs to take care of things this weekend."
Kennedy said MSU's large contingent of athletes enters the Regional Championships with high hopes. "Because experiencing this type of meet really gives you a leg up, it's always exciting when young kids that haven't been there before qualify," Kennedy said. "The Bobcats have some name-recognition in the Midwest Region, especially our throwers. We're not a Big 12 school that will bring an entire team to the regional meet, but people know about Montana State track and field, and that's exciting."
The top five finishers at each of the four NCAA regional meets qualify for the NCAA Championships, and after that six or seven competitors from every event based on their best mark of the season fill out the field. Jones-Graf and Rudy appear the two most likely Bobcat candidates for wild card entry into the national meet (all heptathletes are selected on a wild card basis).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR BOBCATS AT NCAA MIDWEST REGIONALS
MEN'S HAMMER THROW: 12 noon Friday -- Josh Henigman (196-1, 7th in Region/50th in Nation), Jesse Allen (194-6, 8th/55th), Nathan Palmer (183-5, 14th/96th)
WOMEN'S 100 HURDLES: 4 pm Friday -- Erin Jones-Graf (13.92 aa, 22nd/105th)
MEN'S DISCUS: 5 pm Friday -- Josh Henigman (172-3, 23rd/84th)
MEN'S 400: Trials 7 pm MDT Friday -- Dan Johnson (47.25 aa, 30th/111th)
MEN'S SHOT PUT: 2 pm Saturday -- Jesse Allen (55-8.5, 22nd/85th)
WOMEN'S POLE VAULT: 5 pm Saturday -- Ellie Rudy (13-6.25, T3rd/T14th)
WOMEN'S HAMMER THROW: 12 noon Saturday -- Ashley Jones (186-5, 13th/55th)
WOMEN'S JAVELIN: 2 pm Friday -- Kelli Philip (154-11, 15th/47th)
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
