Montana State University
MOUNTAIN STATES GAMES
Climbing the Mountain
2/4/2012 6:02:00 PM | Track & Field
Bobcats keep making the mark, set new program records
With just three weekends left to earn their marks, Montana State Track and Field kept up the momentum at the Mountain States Games, hosted by Idaho State in Pocatello. They picked up nine more qualified individuals for the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. In addition to meeting the conference standards, the 'Cats garnered 27 medals, with 12 first place finishes between the men and the women. (Complete Results)
As a last chance opportunity in the multis, the Bobcat women surely took advantage. Carley McCutchen placed second overall with a lifetime best score of 3,541, which puts here among the top competitors in the conference. Kortnee Barrett, who was just over 100 points shy of the 3,100-point championship standard prior to the Mountain States Games, finally made the cut with a score of 3,139. She placed sixth overall. Sadie McMillan, who qualified earlier at the MSU Combined Events Invitational (Jan. 9), improved her previous score of 3,179 to 3,287.
In addition to qualifying all the women for the pentathlon, the men's heptathlon was one of the biggest highlights of the weekend. Asa Staven won the event with a score of 5,691. His score not only marked a lifetime best but also new a new program record. Until Jan. 10, Staven was the record holder with 5,409 when Jeff Mohl reset the mark at 5,521 at the MSU Combined Event meet. This is the second time Staven has held the top spot in the record books. If breaking the school record wasn't enough, Staven also broke the Big Sky Conference mark.
Mohl came in second with 5,468 points. Powhattan Williamson earned his qualifying mark in the heptathlon, as well, finishing with 4,614 points.
Dan Jackson's 5,000 also marked another program best. Shannon Butler was the previous record holder with a tiem of 14:01.24, set back in 1991, coincidentally, also in Pocatello. Jackson's unadjusted time of 14:18.77, becomes just under the 14-minute mark. Jackson placed second in the event behind assistant coach Lyle Weese, competing unattached.
Amanda Murphy continued her strong showing with another win in the Weight Throw with a distance of 18.35m (60-02.50). Murphy has not placed lower than first this season.
Amber Amsbaugh also placed first in her event, winning the high jump at 1.67m (5-05.75).
Other notable wins included Katie Niemeir in the hurdles (8.74) and Chantel Jaeger in the 200 (24.79). For the men, Chris Wilson's 60 time of 6.88 was a first place win, as well as a potential program best. Other men's wins included Grant Grosvenor in the 800 (1:53.12) and Kyler Felton in the triple jump (13.44m).
“Overall, we really adjusted to their facility,” said head coach Dale Kennedy. “Our kids did really well, competed hard and we got new qualifiers and many lifetime bests along the way. It was really a good third week and we're continuing to improve. The freight train is rolling.”
MSU returns to their home turf on Friday, Feb. 10 for the Bozeman Running Company Invitational, a triple-dual scored meet with Big Sky members, Montana and Weber State. The meet will begin at 4:30 p.m. with field events and will also be available on Big Sky TV.
