Friday, February 1
Pocatello, ID
12:00 PM
Montana State University
at
MOUNTAIN STATES GAMES
Katie Niemeir won the 60 hurdles at the Mountain States Games in 2012 and will look to defend her title.
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
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1/30/2013 2:17:00 PM | Track & Field
Track and Field travels to Mountain States Games; marks midway point of indoor slate
They're nearing the halfway point and time is of the essence as Montana State Track and Field gears up for the Mountain States Games on Feb. 1-2, in Pocatello, hosted by Idaho State. Two two-day meet provides a mock-championship setting, as the Big Sky Championships loom over the horizon, just three weeks away.
MSU will face a few new opponents this season at the Mountain States Games which features five Big Sky schools. In addition to MSU, Montana and Idaho State, the Bobcats will have a chance to see Weber State and conference newcomer Southern Utah in action at the unscored meet.
A few Bobcats will be missing from the lineup in Pocatello but there will still be plenty of Blue & Gold talent making an impact in Holt Arena. The meet will mark the first time the 'Cats will have the opportunity to run the distance medley relay, an event MSU has traditionally excelled in. Last year the Bobcat Men won the event. Both the men and women have loaded relay rosters in the event and head coach Dale Kennedy has high expectations.
Jeff Mohl, who is the most recent Big Sky Field Athlete of the Week, will sit out the competition after suffering an ankle sprain at the Cougar Multis, where he won the heptathlon.
“We're definitely on a mission at this point of the season,” said Coach Kennedy. “We have 27 student-athletes inside the top-16 but what we're really looking for are those automatic qualifiers. We're hoping to come out with a lot season or lifetime bests and the appropriate marks to earn more places at the conference meet.”
The Bobcat Women only added one more to their roster of nine with automatic qualifiers at last week's MSU Open. Freshman Alisa Gilchrist was the lone new qualified at the Jan. 25 meet. She joins Amber Amsbaugh (high jump), Rebekka Chambers (pole vault), Heather Demorest (mile, 3K, 5K), Heather Haug (800, mile, 3K, 5K), Libby Madison (pole vault), Carley McCutchen (pentathlon), Katie Niemeir (55H), Casey Teska (pole vault) and Kristi VandeBergh (shot put), who have all punched their tickets for the conference meet.
The men also have ten ready to compete for a conference title on their home turf Feb. 21-23, when MSU hosts the conference championships. Jeff Mohl, who won't be competing at the Mountain States Games leads the group with marks in four events (high jump, pole vault, long jump, heptathlon) and will be joined by Sean Ferriter (weight throw), Trevor Gilreath (shot put), Grant Grosvenor (800), Jacob Kirk (mile), Ryan Kropp (pole vault), David Phillips (weight throw), Slater Powell (55H), Cristian Soratos (mile, 3K, 5K) and Chris Wilson (55).
In addition to having earned their stripes, several Bobcats enter the Mountain States Games as leaders of the Big Sky. Haug, named the Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 29, is at the top of the conference charts in both the 800 and the mile. Amsbaugh leads the league with a lifetime best height of 1.75m (5-08.75) in the high jump. In the men's weight throw, Phillips most recent hurl of 19.63m (64-05.00) perches him at the top of the charts.
The meet will commence at noon on Friday, Feb. 1 and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 2. Last year, MSU amassed 27 total medals, including 12 first-place finishes.
MSU will face a few new opponents this season at the Mountain States Games which features five Big Sky schools. In addition to MSU, Montana and Idaho State, the Bobcats will have a chance to see Weber State and conference newcomer Southern Utah in action at the unscored meet.
A few Bobcats will be missing from the lineup in Pocatello but there will still be plenty of Blue & Gold talent making an impact in Holt Arena. The meet will mark the first time the 'Cats will have the opportunity to run the distance medley relay, an event MSU has traditionally excelled in. Last year the Bobcat Men won the event. Both the men and women have loaded relay rosters in the event and head coach Dale Kennedy has high expectations.
Jeff Mohl, who is the most recent Big Sky Field Athlete of the Week, will sit out the competition after suffering an ankle sprain at the Cougar Multis, where he won the heptathlon.
“We're definitely on a mission at this point of the season,” said Coach Kennedy. “We have 27 student-athletes inside the top-16 but what we're really looking for are those automatic qualifiers. We're hoping to come out with a lot season or lifetime bests and the appropriate marks to earn more places at the conference meet.”
The Bobcat Women only added one more to their roster of nine with automatic qualifiers at last week's MSU Open. Freshman Alisa Gilchrist was the lone new qualified at the Jan. 25 meet. She joins Amber Amsbaugh (high jump), Rebekka Chambers (pole vault), Heather Demorest (mile, 3K, 5K), Heather Haug (800, mile, 3K, 5K), Libby Madison (pole vault), Carley McCutchen (pentathlon), Katie Niemeir (55H), Casey Teska (pole vault) and Kristi VandeBergh (shot put), who have all punched their tickets for the conference meet.
The men also have ten ready to compete for a conference title on their home turf Feb. 21-23, when MSU hosts the conference championships. Jeff Mohl, who won't be competing at the Mountain States Games leads the group with marks in four events (high jump, pole vault, long jump, heptathlon) and will be joined by Sean Ferriter (weight throw), Trevor Gilreath (shot put), Grant Grosvenor (800), Jacob Kirk (mile), Ryan Kropp (pole vault), David Phillips (weight throw), Slater Powell (55H), Cristian Soratos (mile, 3K, 5K) and Chris Wilson (55).
In addition to having earned their stripes, several Bobcats enter the Mountain States Games as leaders of the Big Sky. Haug, named the Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 29, is at the top of the conference charts in both the 800 and the mile. Amsbaugh leads the league with a lifetime best height of 1.75m (5-08.75) in the high jump. In the men's weight throw, Phillips most recent hurl of 19.63m (64-05.00) perches him at the top of the charts.
The meet will commence at noon on Friday, Feb. 1 and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 2. Last year, MSU amassed 27 total medals, including 12 first-place finishes.
Tuesday, May 14
Thursday, August 16
Monday, June 18
Saturday, May 12
