'Cats Open up Outdoor Season at Al Manual Invite

Saturday, March 28

Missoula, MT

Montana State University

University of Montana

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

3/28/2015 6:17:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

By: Jordan Simkins

MEN'S RESULTS | WOMEN'S RESULTS

Montana State Track and Field opened up the outdoor season in at the University of Montana's Al Manual Invitational today in Missoula. The meet consisted of three Big Sky Conference schools (Montana State, Montana and Eastern Washington) and three other Montana schools (MSU-Billings, Rocky Mountain and Carroll College).

The men earned 11 top three finishes, with over half being the top mark. Seth Garbett won the 3000m steeplechase by almost 30 seconds, running a time of 9:26.54. Another first place finish came from senior Rory Bauer, who ran a 49.04 400. Freshman Jory Fisher topped all 800 meter runners, running a time of 1:54.01.

In their first time out this season, Tanner Gambill and Ty Bermes went one-two in the javelin. Gambill threw 61.38 meters, while Bermes followed with 59.21. Kyle Douglass won the shot put (50-07.50) and Shae Stein and Alexander Lewis went two-three in the long jump. Stein jumped 20-09.00 feet and Lewis 20-07.75. Lewis also placed third in the triple jump, jumping 44-01.25.

Carley McCutchen picked up right where she left off, winning the long jump with a distance of 18-00.25 and placing second in the high jump (5-03.00). Jessica Chrisp, Carley Haeffner, and Alisa Gilchrist followed behind McCutchen in the high jump, finishing third and tying in fourth. Chrisp jumped 5-01.00, while Haeffner and Gilchrist both cleared the same height (Chrisp won the tie-breaker). Chrisp also placed third in the long jump (16-11.25).

Amy Rovira came in behind Montana's Nicole Anskaitis in the pole vault, losing the tie-breaker, clearing a height off 11-03.75. The javelin throwers competed today for the first time of the year, with Leslie Gappa and Brittnee Grimstad leading the way. Gappa and Grimstad finished fourth and fifth, throwing distances of 40.43 and 39.78 meters.

MSU's group of hammer throwers were also out for the first time, with top team finishes of third through fifth. Jacqueline Verlanic led the way with a mark of 50.65 meters. Madison Wills followed, throwing 46.99 meters and Brittnee Grimstad with 46.66 meters.

Josephine Petruska led the 'Cats sprinters, winning the 200 (25.53 seconds) and finishing the 100 in second (12.52 seconds). Sarah Dolese was on Petruska's heals, finishing with a time of 12.54. McCutchen joined the mix of top finishes, earning a second place finish in the 100m hurdles (14.39), just .04 seconds behind Montana's Anskaitis.

Montana State's next meet begins on Thursday, April 2, at the Montana State Open at the Bobcat Track and Field Complex. April 3 and 4 will play host to the decathlon and helptathlon, with the remainder of the meet on Saturday, April 4, at 10:30 a.m.