Bobcats Dual Wyoming in Lone Away Meet

Saturday, January 30

Gillette, WY

Montana State University

Powder River Duals

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

1/29/2016 10:38:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

By: Jordan Simkins

Montana State track and field travels to Gillette, Wyoming on Saturday, January 30 to dual the University of Wyoming in the Powder River Duals. This is the only time the Bobcats will compete on the road in the 2016 indoor season. This marks the third consecutive year Montana State has competed in a dual with Wyoming.

MEET INFOMATION:
Who: Montana State and Wyoming
When: Saturday, January 30, 2016 | 12:30 Field Events | 1:30 Track Events
Where: Gillette, WY
Meet Schedule

"Wyoming gives us great competition," head coach Dale Kennedy said. "They're a very competitve team and will really put our athletes to the test. I like the improvements I'm seeing in all of our events, but we need to continue to do that for the remainder the season. I'm excited to who is going to step up this week; last week it was Kaylee Schmitz who really made a difference."

The 'Cats are coming off of a strong a weekend at home, with eleven total qualifiers for the conference championships. Seven men and four women have secured a spot in the conference championships that will take place in Bozeman on February 25-27.

Kaylee Schmitz is currently leading the conference in the 800 after winning the event in 2:12.76 last Friday. Schmitz is the only 800m runner who has qualified, but Taylor Buschy joins her in the top 10 with a time of 2:15.99.

Chiara Warner just missed the mark in the mile, but sits in second place (4:59.81) behind Eastern Washington's Paula Gil-Echevarria. Neither of the two competitors are under the qualifying time.Alyssa Snyder dominated the 3000 a week ago, marking a time of 9:51.08 which puts her in fifth place in the Big Sky standings. The current leader is a senior from Weber State who has a season best of 9:33.81 in the event.

Jessica Chrisp and Danielle Rider continue to sit at the top of the pentathlon rankings in the conference and are 26th and 27th in the country. Chrisp is also among the top five in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5-05.75. Rider's long jump of 18-00.25 puts her in fifth.

Pole vaulter Casey Teska got bumped out of first place after marking a height of 12-09.5 in the season opener.

On the men's side, Mitchell Horning leads the 'Cat sprinters, qualifying and ranking in the top ten of two events. Horning's best 200 came in the season opener where he clocked a time of 21.94 and his 60 time of 6.97 puts him in ninth.

A handful of new faces have made their way to the top of the Big Sky with Samuel Bloom, Matthew Gotta, and Diego Leon all ranking among the top five in different events. Bloom has the fourth fastest 800 (1:54.17), Gotta ranking third in the mile (4:15.31) and foruth in the 5000 (14:54.73), while sophomore transfer Leon ranks fifth in the 5000 (15:06.17).

Alexander Lewis has the fourth best long jump with a mark of 23-00 and Kevin Close is the sixth best triple jumper, marking 46-01.25. These are both qualifying marks.

The throwers are led by sophomore Kyle Douglass and Zach Sharp, who have both hit personal best this season. Douglass' 55-04.25 shot put distance is the third best in the conference and Sharp's 57-09.75 weight throw puts him in third.

Mason Storm remains second in the conference in the heptathlon with a career-high 4908.

"This meet is always fun, because we get to travel and spend a little more time together as a team. Our team is ready to compete at a high level, going against the number four teams in the region."