Montana State University
TOM GAGE CLASSIC
Track and Field Wraps Up Regular Season at Tom Gage Classic
5/8/2014 3:39:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Final meet before Big Sky Championships turns the pressure on for the Bobcats
Montana State Track and Field has just one more chance. The Tom Gage Classic, hosted by Montana on Friday, May 9, marks the final meet before the Big Sky Outdoor Championships and with the progress the 2014 season is making, it should put the Bobcats in a prime position for success.
Headed into the regular season finale, there are 63 Big Sky Championship-caliber performances ready to go to Flagstaff, Arizona on May 14. There are another 31 performances, thus far, that are poised among the top-20 in the league that are hopeful to either get the qualifier or stay in the ranks to earn their bid to the meet.
Heather Demorest leads the team in total number of events she's qualified for, with four. She's beaten the clock in the 1,500, steeplechase, 5,000 and the 10,000 and currently leads the league with a program record time of 10:15.75 in the steeplechase. On the men's side, another distance runner is also the team's top qualifier. Cristian Soratos has three events on the docket with the 800, 1,500 and 10,000. The Salinas, California native holds the fastest time in the Big Sky in the 1,500 with 3:45.04. Powhattan Williamson is also qualified in three events including the 110 hurdles, long jump and the decathlon.
"This meet always bears a lot of weight," said head coach Dale Kennedy. "It's the last time we'll compete before Big Sky and for some there's a lot on the line. Most importantly, we just need to get out there and give our best effort."
Facing off with the "usual suspects" of track and field programs from the state of Montana, the Bobcats will compete alongside host Montana, Carroll, and Great Falls in the annual meet honoring longtime track and field supporter, Tom Gage.
The meet is dedicated to the honor of Tom Gage, a long-time local track and field official who passed away in 2010. Gage was an active Masters thrower and set numerous world and U.S. records and was a finalist in the 1967 Munich Olympics in the hammer throw and is in the Masters Division of the USATF National Track and Field Hall of the Fame. He is honored for his great athletic spirit which inspired so many Bobcat athletes and for his dedicated support of MSU Track and Field.
The meet is slated to begin at noon with the field events with a 2 p.m. start on the track at Dornblaser Field.
