Bobcats Open Track Season Saturday
3/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Montana State opens what long-time head coach Dale Kennedy calls a rebuilding outdoor track and field season on Saturday, as the Bobcats travel to Missoula for the Al Manuel Invitational.
The Bobcats face Montana, Eastern Washington and the University of Mary in a quadruple dual. The Bobcats and Montana are the final two Big Sky Conference teams to open their seasons. In the preseason Big Sky polls MSU is picked 6th, Montana 7th and Eastern Washington 8th in the women's competition, with Montana and Eastern tied for 5th and MSU 7th on the men's side.
"We should have close team battles on Saturday," said Bobcat head coach Dale Kennedy. "We have some holes in certain events where we won't score points, and that will be hard to overcome. But, we're excited to get outdoors and get the season going."
Montana State's men and women each face rebuilding seasons, a situation created both by injuries and the decision to redshirt athletes. All-Big Sky performers Dan Johnson, Steve Heberly and Thomas Seely, along with conference meet qualifier Kevin Ludwig, sit out the season on the men's side, with Brittany Speirs, Rebecca Cooper, Jayme Larson (appendix) and Carrie Gottschalk (hip) missing the outdoor campaign on the women's side.
"This season really takes on a developmental element," Kennedy said. "We're redshirting some kids with an eye toward the future. That limits our expectations as a team, but we have individuals with extremely high expectations."
Ellie Rudy, the reigning indoor pole vault NCAA Champion, leads the way. Rudy cleared 14-feet at the indoor national meet, with good misses at 14-5. "We hope Ellie will pick right up where she left off" indoors, Kennedy said. "(Big Sky Indoor Champion) Kylee Zent is another kid with high expectations. We have some real high-end competitors."
Saturday's meet runs all day at Dornblaser Stadium in Missoula.
The Bobcats face Montana, Eastern Washington and the University of Mary in a quadruple dual. The Bobcats and Montana are the final two Big Sky Conference teams to open their seasons. In the preseason Big Sky polls MSU is picked 6th, Montana 7th and Eastern Washington 8th in the women's competition, with Montana and Eastern tied for 5th and MSU 7th on the men's side.
"We should have close team battles on Saturday," said Bobcat head coach Dale Kennedy. "We have some holes in certain events where we won't score points, and that will be hard to overcome. But, we're excited to get outdoors and get the season going."
Montana State's men and women each face rebuilding seasons, a situation created both by injuries and the decision to redshirt athletes. All-Big Sky performers Dan Johnson, Steve Heberly and Thomas Seely, along with conference meet qualifier Kevin Ludwig, sit out the season on the men's side, with Brittany Speirs, Rebecca Cooper, Jayme Larson (appendix) and Carrie Gottschalk (hip) missing the outdoor campaign on the women's side.
"This season really takes on a developmental element," Kennedy said. "We're redshirting some kids with an eye toward the future. That limits our expectations as a team, but we have individuals with extremely high expectations."
Ellie Rudy, the reigning indoor pole vault NCAA Champion, leads the way. Rudy cleared 14-feet at the indoor national meet, with good misses at 14-5. "We hope Ellie will pick right up where she left off" indoors, Kennedy said. "(Big Sky Indoor Champion) Kylee Zent is another kid with high expectations. We have some real high-end competitors."
Saturday's meet runs all day at Dornblaser Stadium in Missoula.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
