Bobcat Track Squads Split Up
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
If Dale Kennedy weren't considered a logistical mastermind before this weekend, he probably will be by Sunday.
Montana State's long-time track and field coach splits his squad three ways this weekend, sending athletes to the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, the Janvrin Invitational at Simpson College near Des Moines, and the Montana Open in Missoula.
"Last weekend we had kids at two different meets (the California and Long Beach State Invitationals, so I guess this week we topped that," Kennedy laughed. "We'll see some great competition, and more importantly all of our kids will get to compete."
Five Bobcats, including league-leading javelin throwers Kim Berg and Nick Lam, compete at Drake, one of the best-known meets in the nation. "It will be a thrill for those kids to compete at Drake not only because of its tradition, but because there will be so many fantastic competitors there. This is an Olympic year, so the field isn't a true collegiate field, it's more of an international-caliber field."
More than 30 Bobcats also make the short trip from Des Moines to Simpson College for a chance to compete against competition similar to what they'll see at the Midwest Regionals next month in Nebraska. "A lot of teams book flights early on to Iowa with hopes of getting kids into the Drake Relays, and when they don't get into that meet they compete at Simpson," Kennedy said. "That really enhances the competition at Simpson, so our kids will have a great experience there."
Kennedy is also enthused about the opportunity to compete in Missoula. "We had nine new Big Sky qualifiers last weekend, and if we can accomplish something close to that this weekend I'll be ecstatic," he said. "We're really in the home stretch of our season, which magnifies the importance of each meet in terms of qualifying opportunities."
The Bobcats host Montana in the annual Cat-Griz Dual next Saturday.
Montana State's long-time track and field coach splits his squad three ways this weekend, sending athletes to the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, the Janvrin Invitational at Simpson College near Des Moines, and the Montana Open in Missoula.
"Last weekend we had kids at two different meets (the California and Long Beach State Invitationals, so I guess this week we topped that," Kennedy laughed. "We'll see some great competition, and more importantly all of our kids will get to compete."
Five Bobcats, including league-leading javelin throwers Kim Berg and Nick Lam, compete at Drake, one of the best-known meets in the nation. "It will be a thrill for those kids to compete at Drake not only because of its tradition, but because there will be so many fantastic competitors there. This is an Olympic year, so the field isn't a true collegiate field, it's more of an international-caliber field."
More than 30 Bobcats also make the short trip from Des Moines to Simpson College for a chance to compete against competition similar to what they'll see at the Midwest Regionals next month in Nebraska. "A lot of teams book flights early on to Iowa with hopes of getting kids into the Drake Relays, and when they don't get into that meet they compete at Simpson," Kennedy said. "That really enhances the competition at Simpson, so our kids will have a great experience there."
Kennedy is also enthused about the opportunity to compete in Missoula. "We had nine new Big Sky qualifiers last weekend, and if we can accomplish something close to that this weekend I'll be ecstatic," he said. "We're really in the home stretch of our season, which magnifies the importance of each meet in terms of qualifying opportunities."
The Bobcats host Montana in the annual Cat-Griz Dual next Saturday.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
