Saturday, April 28
Bozeman, MT
TBA
Montana State University
vs
CAT-GRIZ DUAL MEET
Amanda Murphy is one of 13 seniors that will honored following the Cat-Griz Track and Field Meet on Saturday.
Photo by: Bill Jarvis
Epic Treasure State Rivalry Takes on Track and Field
4/28/2012 8:16:00 AM | Track & Field
'Cats and Grizzlies face off on Saturday
Dale Kennedy, Montana State's long-time head track and field coach, knows two things for sure about Saturday's annual Cat-Griz dual, slated for 10:30 am at the newly-renovated MSU Track and Field Complex.
“These two teams bring out the best in each other,” Kennedy said, marveling while looking back at some of the marks posted when the Bobcats and Grizzlies get together head-to-head in outdoor track. “When you look at it, the marks are just amazing.”
The other thing Kennedy said track and field fans can count on from this meet every year is not being able to count on anything. “You just never know what's going to happen. You can score it out on paper, but it never goes exactly how you expect it will go. There are always upsets and kids that come out of nowhere to set a personal best or a record.”
Ancient history is on Montana's side as Saturday's meet nears. The Grizzlies own a 54-24 lead in the men's series, and a 15-14 edge on the women's side. Recent times have been better for MSU, with the Bobcat men taking two of the last three outdoor matchups in the series, including a 116-77 win in Missoula last year. UM's women have won four of the last five, but stretching it back a bit further the Bobcats have won 11 of the last 15.
Recent history favors the Bobcats. MSU and Montana have met 16 times in team-scoring competitions this season. The Bobcats have won 13 of them. Scoring projections for Saturday's dual give MSU the edge on the men's side and Montana a narrow margin on the women's. But Kennedy said results from earlier this season, and weekend projections, don't matter. “These two teams will compete really hard on Saturday,” he said, “and anything can happen.”
Several matchups emerge as crucial to the team races, many on the women's side of the meet. MSU combats Montana's depth in the sprints with freshman Chantel Jaeger, the Big Sky 200 meter leader, in the short sprints, freshman Sonia Antar in the intermediate sprints, and senior stalwart Heather Haug, who stars from the 800 up. UM's Morgan Braby stands as the pre-meet favorite in the 100, while Kennedy says Kourtney Danreuther, Melissa Jenkins and Anika Green also pose a formidable sprints trio behind Braby.
“I think a big matchup that everyone's looking forward to is Heather Haug and Katrina Drennen in the 1500,” Kennedy said. “Heather hasn't had a chance to run against Drennen much. Katrina got a little distance between them in a 3000 (race earlier in the season) and Heather couldn't make it up.” Drennen is third in the Big Sky in the 1500 entering the weekend, while Haug is eighth. The two are also third (Drennen) and fifth (Haug) in the 800, and Haug is third in the league in the steeplechase and fourth in the 5000.
As usual, Montana State brings a stronger throws crew into the event, while UM generally holds the edge in the jumps. The pole vault is a showdown event, with MSU's Rebekka Chambers standing fourth in the Big Sky (12-5.5) and UM's Courtney Kosovich seventh (12-1.5). Each has cleared or nearly cleared 13-feet previously. “That could be a really interesting situation,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy looks forward to the battle between MSU's Jake Turner and Montana's league-leading Lynn Reynolds (8:55.60) in the steeplechase. “That could be a good matchup,” Kennedy said. “Reynolds has way more experience, but Jake is one of the more outstanding freshman steeplechasers we've had in the Big Sky. Not many guys have posted better times (9:08.77) than him as a freshman.”
Montana State's depth in the sprints, speared by league-leading Chris Wilson (100, 200) needs to counter Montana's strong suit, the jumps. UM's developing throws crew looks to cut into the Bobcats' traditional dominance in that area. The pole vault stands as a showdown event, with Montana's Kaleb Horlick holding a narrow edge over Jeff Mohl, Asa Staven and Ryan Kropp. The javelin also offers good competition between MSU's Willie Sullivan and Jeff Mohl and UM's Justin Meyer.
Kennedy brings a healthy squad into Saturday's meet. “We'll go in with pretty much everyone we've been going with,” he said. “We haven't lost anyone out of our lineup (in recent weeks). In that way, we're fortunate, especially coming out of California. That trip takes so much out of those kids, the heat and the travel.”
While student-athletes spend most of the track and field season focusing on their individual performances, Saturday's dual brings team competition to the fore. While he and the athletes continue to monitor conference qualifying marks – the last opportunity to hit those marks is a next Friday at UM's Tom Gage Open - Kennedy knows that mental preparedness is important this week. In the days leading up to the Cat-Griz Dual, he's focused on that part of the equation.
“Team scoring becomes something everyone is involved in and concerned about on Saturday, and everyone wants to play whatever role they can,” Kennedy said. “I really try to impress on our kids the history of this meet, giving it the honor and respect it deserves. There are only a handful of meets in the entire nation like this one. This meet is important to our program, and most years our kids have really responded.”
Kennedy says he appreciates the way fans respond, too. “It's pretty easy,” he said with a smile. “It's pretty easy to follow, because the kids either wear blue jerseys or maroon jerseys. I know our kids will come out Saturday and really get after it.”
“These two teams bring out the best in each other,” Kennedy said, marveling while looking back at some of the marks posted when the Bobcats and Grizzlies get together head-to-head in outdoor track. “When you look at it, the marks are just amazing.”
The other thing Kennedy said track and field fans can count on from this meet every year is not being able to count on anything. “You just never know what's going to happen. You can score it out on paper, but it never goes exactly how you expect it will go. There are always upsets and kids that come out of nowhere to set a personal best or a record.”
Ancient history is on Montana's side as Saturday's meet nears. The Grizzlies own a 54-24 lead in the men's series, and a 15-14 edge on the women's side. Recent times have been better for MSU, with the Bobcat men taking two of the last three outdoor matchups in the series, including a 116-77 win in Missoula last year. UM's women have won four of the last five, but stretching it back a bit further the Bobcats have won 11 of the last 15.
Recent history favors the Bobcats. MSU and Montana have met 16 times in team-scoring competitions this season. The Bobcats have won 13 of them. Scoring projections for Saturday's dual give MSU the edge on the men's side and Montana a narrow margin on the women's. But Kennedy said results from earlier this season, and weekend projections, don't matter. “These two teams will compete really hard on Saturday,” he said, “and anything can happen.”
Several matchups emerge as crucial to the team races, many on the women's side of the meet. MSU combats Montana's depth in the sprints with freshman Chantel Jaeger, the Big Sky 200 meter leader, in the short sprints, freshman Sonia Antar in the intermediate sprints, and senior stalwart Heather Haug, who stars from the 800 up. UM's Morgan Braby stands as the pre-meet favorite in the 100, while Kennedy says Kourtney Danreuther, Melissa Jenkins and Anika Green also pose a formidable sprints trio behind Braby.
“I think a big matchup that everyone's looking forward to is Heather Haug and Katrina Drennen in the 1500,” Kennedy said. “Heather hasn't had a chance to run against Drennen much. Katrina got a little distance between them in a 3000 (race earlier in the season) and Heather couldn't make it up.” Drennen is third in the Big Sky in the 1500 entering the weekend, while Haug is eighth. The two are also third (Drennen) and fifth (Haug) in the 800, and Haug is third in the league in the steeplechase and fourth in the 5000.
As usual, Montana State brings a stronger throws crew into the event, while UM generally holds the edge in the jumps. The pole vault is a showdown event, with MSU's Rebekka Chambers standing fourth in the Big Sky (12-5.5) and UM's Courtney Kosovich seventh (12-1.5). Each has cleared or nearly cleared 13-feet previously. “That could be a really interesting situation,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy looks forward to the battle between MSU's Jake Turner and Montana's league-leading Lynn Reynolds (8:55.60) in the steeplechase. “That could be a good matchup,” Kennedy said. “Reynolds has way more experience, but Jake is one of the more outstanding freshman steeplechasers we've had in the Big Sky. Not many guys have posted better times (9:08.77) than him as a freshman.”
Montana State's depth in the sprints, speared by league-leading Chris Wilson (100, 200) needs to counter Montana's strong suit, the jumps. UM's developing throws crew looks to cut into the Bobcats' traditional dominance in that area. The pole vault stands as a showdown event, with Montana's Kaleb Horlick holding a narrow edge over Jeff Mohl, Asa Staven and Ryan Kropp. The javelin also offers good competition between MSU's Willie Sullivan and Jeff Mohl and UM's Justin Meyer.
Kennedy brings a healthy squad into Saturday's meet. “We'll go in with pretty much everyone we've been going with,” he said. “We haven't lost anyone out of our lineup (in recent weeks). In that way, we're fortunate, especially coming out of California. That trip takes so much out of those kids, the heat and the travel.”
While student-athletes spend most of the track and field season focusing on their individual performances, Saturday's dual brings team competition to the fore. While he and the athletes continue to monitor conference qualifying marks – the last opportunity to hit those marks is a next Friday at UM's Tom Gage Open - Kennedy knows that mental preparedness is important this week. In the days leading up to the Cat-Griz Dual, he's focused on that part of the equation.
“Team scoring becomes something everyone is involved in and concerned about on Saturday, and everyone wants to play whatever role they can,” Kennedy said. “I really try to impress on our kids the history of this meet, giving it the honor and respect it deserves. There are only a handful of meets in the entire nation like this one. This meet is important to our program, and most years our kids have really responded.”
Kennedy says he appreciates the way fans respond, too. “It's pretty easy,” he said with a smile. “It's pretty easy to follow, because the kids either wear blue jerseys or maroon jerseys. I know our kids will come out Saturday and really get after it.”
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Saturday, May 12
