Wednesday, May 9
Bozeman, MT
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Montana State University
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BIG SKY OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chris Wilson, 2012 Big Sky 100 meter champion
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Men, Women Grab Runner-Up Honors in 2012 Big Sky Track Meet
5/12/2012 8:15:00 PM | Track & Field
Jeff Mohl earns Big Sky Field Athlete of the Meet honors
BOZEMAN, Mont. – On a weekend when Montana State welcomed back some of its all-time track and field legends, Dale Kennedy's 2012 squads turned in all-time performances themselves. (Men's Results | Women's Results)
The Bobcat men's and women's teams both finished second at the 2012 Big Sky Championships, hosted at MSU's newly-renovated track complex, easily out-performing pre-meet projections. Kennedy, MSU's long-time coach, couldn't have been more pleased.
“I'm so proud of the kids for the way they competed this weekend,” said Kennedy, who coached many of the Bobcat legends back to participate in the weekend's festivities. “This is one of the better combined meets we've ever had, and having the alumni here is makes it so special.
“But the way this team competed and performed this weekend was really something,” he said. “I'm proud of how the kids performed, and I think the coaches did a great job preparing them. The kids battled the whole way, and we couldn't have gotten any more from them then we got.”
Montana State's men actually led through most of the meet before Northern Arizona overwhelmed the field with its depth, wrapping things up by scoring a stunning 29 points in the 5,000 meters and following that with a 1-2-3 finish in the triple jump late Saturday. To that point, the Bobcats had hung in on the strength of David Phillips' three all-conference performances, Chris Wilson's win in the 100 meters and close second in the 200, and breathtaking efforts by multi-event athletes Jeff Mohl and Asa Staven, which covered the width and breadth of the complex.
“Mohl's effort was unbelievable,” Kennedy said after the 2012 Big Sky decathlon champion helped in both relays on Saturday. “He and Staven just went on and on for four days. It was incredible what those two guys did. That was the heart and soul of this men's team, not that there weren't many great performances, but those two were incredible.”
Mohl's effort on the weekend did not escape notice beyond the MSU coaching staff. The junior from Red Lodge earned Big Sky Field Event Athlete of the Meet honors for his efforts, which amounted to 28 points.
The charge of the Bobcat women up the leader board on Saturday was spearheaded by javelin thrower Emily Tyrell, who finished second a year ago. Three Bobcats scored points in the event. Amber Amsbaugh claimed the Big Sky high jump title in dramatic fashion similar to Amanda Murphy's hammer title on Friday, coming out on top of a four-way tie.
MSU's Chris Wilson, the Big Sky's elite sprinter throughout the season, claimed the 100 meter title, but was upset in the 200. Wilson also helped the Bobcat men win Montana State's first-ever 4 x 100 meter relay championship in a school-record time. “That four-by-one (hundred meters) relay was terrific,” Kennedy said. “That 40.48 might get them to (NCAA) Regionals.”
Bobcat freshman Grant Grosvenor won his second Big Sky title in the 800 meters, matching his feat in the indoor season, posting the second-best mark in school history. Gage Pickering was fourth in the men's 200, while Nick Melone was fifth in the 400 hurdles.
On the women's side, Katie Niemeir was second in the women's 100 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles. Madeline Fuchs was second in the 400 hurdles.
The Bobcats await the results of several conference championship meets this weekend, which determine entry into the 2012 NCAA Championships West Preliminary meet at the University of Texas on May 24-26.
The Bobcat men's and women's teams both finished second at the 2012 Big Sky Championships, hosted at MSU's newly-renovated track complex, easily out-performing pre-meet projections. Kennedy, MSU's long-time coach, couldn't have been more pleased.
“I'm so proud of the kids for the way they competed this weekend,” said Kennedy, who coached many of the Bobcat legends back to participate in the weekend's festivities. “This is one of the better combined meets we've ever had, and having the alumni here is makes it so special.
“But the way this team competed and performed this weekend was really something,” he said. “I'm proud of how the kids performed, and I think the coaches did a great job preparing them. The kids battled the whole way, and we couldn't have gotten any more from them then we got.”
Montana State's men actually led through most of the meet before Northern Arizona overwhelmed the field with its depth, wrapping things up by scoring a stunning 29 points in the 5,000 meters and following that with a 1-2-3 finish in the triple jump late Saturday. To that point, the Bobcats had hung in on the strength of David Phillips' three all-conference performances, Chris Wilson's win in the 100 meters and close second in the 200, and breathtaking efforts by multi-event athletes Jeff Mohl and Asa Staven, which covered the width and breadth of the complex.
“Mohl's effort was unbelievable,” Kennedy said after the 2012 Big Sky decathlon champion helped in both relays on Saturday. “He and Staven just went on and on for four days. It was incredible what those two guys did. That was the heart and soul of this men's team, not that there weren't many great performances, but those two were incredible.”
Mohl's effort on the weekend did not escape notice beyond the MSU coaching staff. The junior from Red Lodge earned Big Sky Field Event Athlete of the Meet honors for his efforts, which amounted to 28 points.
The charge of the Bobcat women up the leader board on Saturday was spearheaded by javelin thrower Emily Tyrell, who finished second a year ago. Three Bobcats scored points in the event. Amber Amsbaugh claimed the Big Sky high jump title in dramatic fashion similar to Amanda Murphy's hammer title on Friday, coming out on top of a four-way tie.
MSU's Chris Wilson, the Big Sky's elite sprinter throughout the season, claimed the 100 meter title, but was upset in the 200. Wilson also helped the Bobcat men win Montana State's first-ever 4 x 100 meter relay championship in a school-record time. “That four-by-one (hundred meters) relay was terrific,” Kennedy said. “That 40.48 might get them to (NCAA) Regionals.”
Bobcat freshman Grant Grosvenor won his second Big Sky title in the 800 meters, matching his feat in the indoor season, posting the second-best mark in school history. Gage Pickering was fourth in the men's 200, while Nick Melone was fifth in the 400 hurdles.
On the women's side, Katie Niemeir was second in the women's 100 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles. Madeline Fuchs was second in the 400 hurdles.
The Bobcats await the results of several conference championship meets this weekend, which determine entry into the 2012 NCAA Championships West Preliminary meet at the University of Texas on May 24-26.
Big Sky Championship Video Recap
Tuesday, May 14
Bobcat Insider | Weese Tabbed Director of Track & Field
Thursday, August 16
Bobcat Insider | Dale Kennedy Interview
Monday, June 18
Big Sky Outdoor Championships Recap
Saturday, May 12
