Montana State University
TOM GAGE CLASSIC
Night Vision
5/3/2013 8:49:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Bobcats compete into the night but still capitalize at Last Chance meet
Montana State Track and Field closed out the 2013 regular season on Friday night at the Tom Gage Classic. Also marking their final home meet of the year, MSU rose to the occasion as the meet fell well into dusk, amidst rainy and cold conditions and pushed themselves one final time before the Big Sky Championship meet. (Results)
In one of the first field events of the day, Casey Teska continued to improve with another collegiate best and a gold medal in the pole vault, launching herself to a height of 3.80m (12-05.50), besting her previous height by two feet. Also taking advantage of the last chance was Libby Madison who earned her qualifying mark for the championship meet when she catapulted to a height of 3.60m, along with teammate Rebekka Chambers.
Heather Demorest punched her ticket in the 1,500 while being paced by Heather Haug who competed unattached. Demorest came in second with a lifetime best time of 4:36.08 and with the altitude adjustment, will be under the 4:36 mark.
The hammer throw featured David Phillips' fifth win of the season with an impressive distance of 211-05, just two feet off his program record from one week prior. Zach Sharp earned the bronze medal. In addition to his third place finish, sharp finally earned his first Big Sky automatic qualifier in the event with a distance of 55.28m (181-04).
Also in the throws, the women's javelin was swept by the Bobcats with Dawn Blevins taking first with 40.52m (132-11), followed by Brittnee Grimstad (39.92m/131-00) and Justine Hice with the bronze (36.96m/121-03).
Chantel Jaeger picked up her third sweep of the season in her events, winning both the 200 and the 400 at the Bobcat Track and Field Complex. She won the 200 in 24.76 and crossed the finish line in 55.49 for a collegiate season-best.
In the same race, Iris Hardarson placed second finally earning her automatic qualifier for the Big Sky with a time of 56.26. Soniar Antar picked up third place in 56.80 for the MSU sweep of the event.
The men's 800 was dominant once again with an electrifying race. Conference leader Grant Grosvenor raced in the middle of the pack until about the final 400 when he made a huge push to win with a time of 1:50.27, unadjusted. After sitting in last place for more of the race, Matt Tex, who ranks second in the league, kicked it into high gear with just 200 meters to go, to bump all the way up to second place with a time of 1:51.86. Marcus Swan came in fourth in 1:54.33.
Other wins came from Madeline Fuchs in the 400 hurdles with a season best 1:01.38, with Paige Squire in second at 1:04.40. Lierin Flanagan won the 800 in 2:13.15; Amber Amsbaugh in high jump (1.65m/5-05); Trevor Gilreath in the shot (16.71m/54-10) and Kristi VandeBergh in the shot put, as well (14.09m/46-02.75). Megan Beam won the 5,000, which ended in near pitch-black conditions with a time of 18:21.40.
“We set out tonight with some specific goals and got a lot of them accomplished,” said head coach Dale Kennedy. “Now we can shift our focus, and our only focus, to the Big Sky Championships next week.”
The night also marked senior night for 13 of Bobcat Track and Field's student-athletes.
Montana State will reach the pinnacle of the outdoor season when they travel to Forest Grove, Ore. for the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Portland State at Lincoln Park Stadium. The meet will run May 8-11.
