Track and Field Heads to Montana
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
THIS WEEK’S ACTION
The century-old (this year) meet begins with the women’s hammer throw at 10 am, while the track events start at 12:30 pm. Montana’s men won four of the last five in this series, while the MSU women have won 10 straight.
CAT-GRIZ DUAL
The annual Cat-Griz Dual Saturday begins with the women’s hammer throw at 10 am, with track events commencing at 12:30 pm. Montana swept the Bobcats decisively in a dual earlier in the season, also at Missoula.
Series Record
In addition to having the better of it lately, Montana’s men own a 51-22 dual record against the ‘Cats in a series that began in 1906. MSU won 12 straight from 1987-98, and at one point captured 16 of 19. The Bobcat men are 8-17 in the known series in Missoula. After losing eight women’s duals between the schools, Montana State has won 13 of the last 16, including 10 in a row. MSU’s women are 5-3 in the known series in Missoula.
Record-Setters
Last year, Erin Jones-Graf (triple jump), Ellie Rudy (pole vault), and Dan Johnson all set meet records, while the Bobcats matched the 400 meter relay mark. Ellie Rudy set the MSU and Big Sky Conference records last week with a vault of 14-1.25 at Idaho State. Rudy, who also owns the best indoor vault in Big Sky history, won the NCAA Indoor Championship by clearing that height.
Qualifiers
While the Grizzlies stand as prohibitive favorites on their home track in the men’s and women’s duals this weekend, MSU has posted some high-end performances. MSU has qualified 15 women and 17 men for the Big Sky Championships, six men and five women for the NCAA Midwest Region meet. Included in that group is the nation’s second-ranked women’s pole vaulter, reigning NCAA Indoor Champion Ellie Rudy.
BIG SKY HONORS
Ellie Rudy earned Big Sky Field Event Athlete of the Week honors last week, her second outdoor award this season.
DALE KENNEDY QUOTES
“This is obviously and important meet for us, one which we really emphasize and really enjoy. The composition of this year’s teams really lends itself more toward success in a conference meet rather than a dual, because our strengths are concentrated in a handful of events rather than spread across the board. We leave too many events uncovered to succeed in a dual against a strong program, but I think our kids have bought into the fact that, even in a developmental season in terms of the team, each individual strives for their own goals, and that gives us a chance to do as well as we can as a team.”
BOBCAT QUALIFIERS
BSC -Region -NCAA
Men -17 -6 -0
Women -15 -5 -0
BOBCAT RANKINGS
Event -Region -NCAA
Ellie Rudy -PV -2nd -2nd
Kylee Zent -SP -22nd -82nd
Ashley Jones -HT -8th -39th
Karen Helvey -HT -13th -56th
Kim Berg -Jav -6th -17th
Tanner Rauk -SP -12th -64th
Nathan Palmer -HT -13th --69th
Taylor Henson -Jav -8th 41st
Dustin Degen J-av -10th -49th
Dan van Swearingen -Jav -17th 6-9th
Nick Lam -Jav -20th -76th
OUTDOOR SCHEDULE
Date -Competition Men/Women
A28 -Cat-Griz Dual -Missoula
M4 -Tom Gage Classic -Bozeman
M9-12 --Big Sky Outdoors -Pocatello
M25-26 NCAA Regional -Des Moines
J6-9 -NCAA Outdoors -Sacramento
BOBCAT COACHING STAFF
DALE KENNEDY, head track/cross country coach Dale Kennedy is in his 25th 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 nine All-Americas and 21 NCAA qualifiers... MSU’s men’s Big Sky outdoor title in ‘05 was the program’s first men’s Big Sky crown ever
MIKE CARIGNAN, throws
In his 25th year at MSU... has coached 47 athletes to all-Big Sky honors... MSU’s throwers led the Big Sky in points from 2002-06... 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 13th year at MSU... MSU vaulter from ‘79-82... won the ‘82 Big Sky pole vault title... has coached 47 all-conference athletes and 20 different league champs, including the highest male and female vaulters in Big Sky history and 2007 NCAA Champion Ellie Rudy... coached athletes to Big Sky meet records in 2 men’s and 6 women’s events
JORAH GRIFFITH, sprints/jav
Fourth year in the program, second as full-time assistant... coaches sprints and javelin... former standout thrower at Wyoming... hails from western Montana
The century-old (this year) meet begins with the women’s hammer throw at 10 am, while the track events start at 12:30 pm. Montana’s men won four of the last five in this series, while the MSU women have won 10 straight.
CAT-GRIZ DUAL
The annual Cat-Griz Dual Saturday begins with the women’s hammer throw at 10 am, with track events commencing at 12:30 pm. Montana swept the Bobcats decisively in a dual earlier in the season, also at Missoula.
Series Record
In addition to having the better of it lately, Montana’s men own a 51-22 dual record against the ‘Cats in a series that began in 1906. MSU won 12 straight from 1987-98, and at one point captured 16 of 19. The Bobcat men are 8-17 in the known series in Missoula. After losing eight women’s duals between the schools, Montana State has won 13 of the last 16, including 10 in a row. MSU’s women are 5-3 in the known series in Missoula.
Record-Setters
Last year, Erin Jones-Graf (triple jump), Ellie Rudy (pole vault), and Dan Johnson all set meet records, while the Bobcats matched the 400 meter relay mark. Ellie Rudy set the MSU and Big Sky Conference records last week with a vault of 14-1.25 at Idaho State. Rudy, who also owns the best indoor vault in Big Sky history, won the NCAA Indoor Championship by clearing that height.
Qualifiers
While the Grizzlies stand as prohibitive favorites on their home track in the men’s and women’s duals this weekend, MSU has posted some high-end performances. MSU has qualified 15 women and 17 men for the Big Sky Championships, six men and five women for the NCAA Midwest Region meet. Included in that group is the nation’s second-ranked women’s pole vaulter, reigning NCAA Indoor Champion Ellie Rudy.
BIG SKY HONORS
Ellie Rudy earned Big Sky Field Event Athlete of the Week honors last week, her second outdoor award this season.
DALE KENNEDY QUOTES
“This is obviously and important meet for us, one which we really emphasize and really enjoy. The composition of this year’s teams really lends itself more toward success in a conference meet rather than a dual, because our strengths are concentrated in a handful of events rather than spread across the board. We leave too many events uncovered to succeed in a dual against a strong program, but I think our kids have bought into the fact that, even in a developmental season in terms of the team, each individual strives for their own goals, and that gives us a chance to do as well as we can as a team.”
BOBCAT QUALIFIERS
BSC -Region -NCAA
Men -17 -6 -0
Women -15 -5 -0
BOBCAT RANKINGS
Event -Region -NCAA
Ellie Rudy -PV -2nd -2nd
Kylee Zent -SP -22nd -82nd
Ashley Jones -HT -8th -39th
Karen Helvey -HT -13th -56th
Kim Berg -Jav -6th -17th
Tanner Rauk -SP -12th -64th
Nathan Palmer -HT -13th --69th
Taylor Henson -Jav -8th 41st
Dustin Degen J-av -10th -49th
Dan van Swearingen -Jav -17th 6-9th
Nick Lam -Jav -20th -76th
OUTDOOR SCHEDULE
Date -Competition Men/Women
A28 -Cat-Griz Dual -Missoula
M4 -Tom Gage Classic -Bozeman
M9-12 --Big Sky Outdoors -Pocatello
M25-26 NCAA Regional -Des Moines
J6-9 -NCAA Outdoors -Sacramento
BOBCAT COACHING STAFF
DALE KENNEDY, head track/cross country coach Dale Kennedy is in his 25th 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 nine All-Americas and 21 NCAA qualifiers... MSU’s men’s Big Sky outdoor title in ‘05 was the program’s first men’s Big Sky crown ever
MIKE CARIGNAN, throws
In his 25th year at MSU... has coached 47 athletes to all-Big Sky honors... MSU’s throwers led the Big Sky in points from 2002-06... 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 13th year at MSU... MSU vaulter from ‘79-82... won the ‘82 Big Sky pole vault title... has coached 47 all-conference athletes and 20 different league champs, including the highest male and female vaulters in Big Sky history and 2007 NCAA Champion Ellie Rudy... coached athletes to Big Sky meet records in 2 men’s and 6 women’s events
JORAH GRIFFITH, sprints/jav
Fourth year in the program, second as full-time assistant... coaches sprints and javelin... former standout thrower at Wyoming... hails from western Montana
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
