Track and Field Announces Team Awards
3/25/2014 2:58:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Talented indoor track and field group earn program recognition
Montana State Track and Field announced the 2014 Indoor Track and Field awards with several student-athletes gaining program recognition for the efforts over the course of January and February.
TOP GUN AWARD: Given to the male and female who recorded the most number of points during the indoor season.
CHANTEL JAEGER (Jr./Yakima, Wash.) - The sprinter garnered a total of 78.5 points this indoor season while competing at the top of the Big Sky Conference. She placed third in the 200 at the Big Sky meet, as well as the runner-up in the 4x400 relay for two All-Big Sky finishes. In addition, she amassed five first-place finishes thus far in 2014.
CHRIS WILSON (Sr./Great Falls, Mont.) - Also a sprinter, the veteran has posted one of the most consistent careers during his time at Montana State and is the winner of three different team awards this season. Wilson finished with 99 total individual points to go with his Big Sky Championship title in the 200. He also placed fourth in the 60 and ran on the 4x400 relay. He finished his final indoor season with 10 gold medals. He is the program record holder in both the 55 and the 200.
OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER
AMBER AMSBAUGH (Sr./Big Sandy, Mont.) - The high jumper tried her might in the multis this season but continued to dominate in the high jump as she has done for much of her time in the Blue and Gold. She placed second in the high jump at the Big Sky meet, her fourth All-Conference finish in two years. Her only non-win in the high jump this season was at the Big Sky meet.
CASEY TESKA (So./Stow, Mass.) - The sophomore pole vaulter had a breakout year in the pole vault, following the footsteps of Rebekka Chambers. Teska placed second in the pole vault at the Big Sky Meet and launched herself to a lifetime best mark of 13-01.75 (4.01m), ranking her fourth in program history. Much like her teammates who also received awards, the sophomore jumper garnered several wins in 2014, with five total, never placing below second.
RYAN KROPP (Jr./Helena, Mont.) - After an injury-ridden 2013 and a rough start in 2014, Kropp rebounded to a fourth place finish in the pole vault at the Big Sky Championships. His fourth place finish was his lowest result all year, and also had one first place finish in four appearances.
OUTSTANDING TRACK PERFORMER
KAYLEE SCHMITZ (So./O'Fallon, Ill.) - The middle distance runner had a breakout year on the track. Most notably, she dethroned Heather Haug in the 800 and is now the new program record holder with a time of 2:08.63. In her first Big Sky appearance, she came in second place in the 800 for all-conference honors and was also a part of the distance medley team. She picked up two wins along the way this season and showed her true competitive spirit.
CHRIS WILSON
MOST IMPROVED
CASEY TESKA - In addition to her Big Sky performance (after finishing sixth just one year ago), she also increased her height from 12-05.50 to 13-01.75.
KAYLEE SCHMITZ - While she didn't compete at the Big Sky meet last winter, she did improve from the outdoor season going from 19th place to league runner-up, as well as setting a new program record in the 800. Over the course of the season, she dropped nearly eight seconds off her 800 time, as well.
CHRIS WILSON - The senior sprinter saw significant time drops in the 60 and the 200, a daunting task for anyone. This season, he clocked in with a time of 6.82, compared to 6.92 a year ago in the 60 and went from 21.74 to 21.27 in the 200.
MATTHEW TEX - He won the indoor 800 this season at the Big Sky meet after finishing fourth in 2013 and logged a time of 1:51.37, improving from 1:53.71 just one year ago. He was also a part of the Big Sky Championship distance medley relay, earning two All-Big Sky finishes this year.
OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN
JENETTE NORTHEY (Fr./Anchorage, Alaska) - One of the leaders of the MSU distance group in just her first season as a true freshman after competing in both the 3,000 and 5,000 at the Big Sky Championships. She came in fifth in the 3,000 and eighth in the 5,000. She earned four first-place finishes this winter including a huge time drop in the 3,000 at the Bobcat Open.
MASON STORM (Fr./Great Falls, Mont.) - One of the few representatives in the jumps group, earning valuable collegiate experience in just his first season of competition. Competing primarily in the multis, hurdles and jumps, Storm held his own and saw continual improvement over the course of the season and competed in the heptathlon and the long jump at the Big Sky Championships.
RILEY SAMPSON (Fr./Polson, Mont.) - The true freshman competed in all seven meets for MSU including the Big Sky Championships where he placed 14th in the shot put. He came in third place in the shot put on four different occasions, once finishing second.
"This cross section of student-athletes shows the depth this team really has," said head coach Dale Kennedy. "Each of them contributed not only as individuals but to the greater good of the team and our team awards show this dedication."
This is Amsbaugh's second Outstanding Field Performer award, after taking the honors in 2013. Both Teska and Jaeger have earned Outstanding Freshman honors.
TOP GUN AWARD: Given to the male and female who recorded the most number of points during the indoor season.
CHANTEL JAEGER (Jr./Yakima, Wash.) - The sprinter garnered a total of 78.5 points this indoor season while competing at the top of the Big Sky Conference. She placed third in the 200 at the Big Sky meet, as well as the runner-up in the 4x400 relay for two All-Big Sky finishes. In addition, she amassed five first-place finishes thus far in 2014.
CHRIS WILSON (Sr./Great Falls, Mont.) - Also a sprinter, the veteran has posted one of the most consistent careers during his time at Montana State and is the winner of three different team awards this season. Wilson finished with 99 total individual points to go with his Big Sky Championship title in the 200. He also placed fourth in the 60 and ran on the 4x400 relay. He finished his final indoor season with 10 gold medals. He is the program record holder in both the 55 and the 200.
OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER
AMBER AMSBAUGH (Sr./Big Sandy, Mont.) - The high jumper tried her might in the multis this season but continued to dominate in the high jump as she has done for much of her time in the Blue and Gold. She placed second in the high jump at the Big Sky meet, her fourth All-Conference finish in two years. Her only non-win in the high jump this season was at the Big Sky meet.
CASEY TESKA (So./Stow, Mass.) - The sophomore pole vaulter had a breakout year in the pole vault, following the footsteps of Rebekka Chambers. Teska placed second in the pole vault at the Big Sky Meet and launched herself to a lifetime best mark of 13-01.75 (4.01m), ranking her fourth in program history. Much like her teammates who also received awards, the sophomore jumper garnered several wins in 2014, with five total, never placing below second.
RYAN KROPP (Jr./Helena, Mont.) - After an injury-ridden 2013 and a rough start in 2014, Kropp rebounded to a fourth place finish in the pole vault at the Big Sky Championships. His fourth place finish was his lowest result all year, and also had one first place finish in four appearances.
OUTSTANDING TRACK PERFORMER
KAYLEE SCHMITZ (So./O'Fallon, Ill.) - The middle distance runner had a breakout year on the track. Most notably, she dethroned Heather Haug in the 800 and is now the new program record holder with a time of 2:08.63. In her first Big Sky appearance, she came in second place in the 800 for all-conference honors and was also a part of the distance medley team. She picked up two wins along the way this season and showed her true competitive spirit.
CHRIS WILSON
MOST IMPROVED
CASEY TESKA - In addition to her Big Sky performance (after finishing sixth just one year ago), she also increased her height from 12-05.50 to 13-01.75.
KAYLEE SCHMITZ - While she didn't compete at the Big Sky meet last winter, she did improve from the outdoor season going from 19th place to league runner-up, as well as setting a new program record in the 800. Over the course of the season, she dropped nearly eight seconds off her 800 time, as well.
CHRIS WILSON - The senior sprinter saw significant time drops in the 60 and the 200, a daunting task for anyone. This season, he clocked in with a time of 6.82, compared to 6.92 a year ago in the 60 and went from 21.74 to 21.27 in the 200.
MATTHEW TEX - He won the indoor 800 this season at the Big Sky meet after finishing fourth in 2013 and logged a time of 1:51.37, improving from 1:53.71 just one year ago. He was also a part of the Big Sky Championship distance medley relay, earning two All-Big Sky finishes this year.
OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN
JENETTE NORTHEY (Fr./Anchorage, Alaska) - One of the leaders of the MSU distance group in just her first season as a true freshman after competing in both the 3,000 and 5,000 at the Big Sky Championships. She came in fifth in the 3,000 and eighth in the 5,000. She earned four first-place finishes this winter including a huge time drop in the 3,000 at the Bobcat Open.
MASON STORM (Fr./Great Falls, Mont.) - One of the few representatives in the jumps group, earning valuable collegiate experience in just his first season of competition. Competing primarily in the multis, hurdles and jumps, Storm held his own and saw continual improvement over the course of the season and competed in the heptathlon and the long jump at the Big Sky Championships.
RILEY SAMPSON (Fr./Polson, Mont.) - The true freshman competed in all seven meets for MSU including the Big Sky Championships where he placed 14th in the shot put. He came in third place in the shot put on four different occasions, once finishing second.
"This cross section of student-athletes shows the depth this team really has," said head coach Dale Kennedy. "Each of them contributed not only as individuals but to the greater good of the team and our team awards show this dedication."
This is Amsbaugh's second Outstanding Field Performer award, after taking the honors in 2013. Both Teska and Jaeger have earned Outstanding Freshman honors.
Tuesday, May 14
Thursday, August 16
Monday, June 18
Saturday, May 12
