Two More for Track and Field
7/30/2013 2:28:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Gatorade Athlete of the Year highlights latest signees for Bobcats
Two more student-athletes have made their commitment to Montana State to continue their track and field careers as Bobcats, MSU announced on Tuesday.
Lila Hamburg, hailing from Billings, Mont. and is a 2013 graduate of Billings West High School. She earned four letters each in cross country and track and field for the Golden Bears.
Most recently during her 2012-13 season, she was named team captain for track and field and earned the team's Top Sprinter award. She placed sixth at the Class AA Montana State Championship meet in the 800 and came in fifth in the 400. She also handled the lead-off leg of the state runner-up 4x400 relay. She appeared in the state meet, all four years as a Golden Bear.
Notably, she was part of the 2012 Class AA State Championship 4x400 team, while also competing in the 400 and 800 at the championship meet for track and field.
She was a four-year selection for Academic All-State honors and the honor roll. In addition to her membership with the National Honor Society, she also earned the President's Award for Academic Achievement.
"Lila brings a broad range of experience to Montana State," said head coach Dale Kennedy. "She has a wonderful history as a great teammate, a strong competitor in the sprint/middle distance and takes her academics seriously. She will fit right into our program and we expect to see a lot of improvement from her as a runner."
Matthew Tokarz will also join the Blue and Gold as part of the jumps corps. A 2013 graduate of Flathead High School, he was recently named the Gatorade Montana Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year following two individual state titles at the Class AA Championships to bookend a huge senior year. He earned gold medals in the long jump and the triple jump, where he broke a 25 year old record with a leap of 48-09.50. Both performances earned him all-state honors and MVP-Field Events along with a school record in the long jump (22-07.75).
Also a standout in football for the Braves, he was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2012 at quarter back and second team all-conference at safety. He was also team captain for his senior season and earned the team's MVP Offense award.
"We are very excited to have Matthew join our team," said jumps coach Tom Eitel. "He has only jumped two years and had remarkable success and should make an immediate impact in both the long jump and triple jump in the Big Sky Conference. We look forward to see how he progresses at the collegiate level of competition."
