Schmitz, Teska Crowned Big Sky Conference Champions

Saturday, February 27

BOZEMAN

Montana State University

BIG SKY INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Casey Teska - 2016 BSC Indoor Pole Vault Champion

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

2/27/2016 5:38:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

By: Jordan Simkins

Day 3 Results | Complete Results | Team Scores

Kaylee Schmitz and Casey Teska both came into the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships leading the field and eager to win a title. Schmitz, the school's 800 record holder, won the prelims on Friday evening and followed up her performance with 2:11.21 victory in the finals. Teska battled back and forth with Sacramento State's Danielle Brandon, both clearing the pole vault bar at 13-01.50, but MSU's senior earned the top spot after the final judge's decision.

"It's always special to see someone win a conference title," head coach Dale Kennedy said. "Casey and Kaylee both deserved to win. They put a tremendous amount of work in leading up to today and I couldn't be more excited for them."

Layne Oliver represented the Blue and Gold in the mile, earning two team points and a seventh place finish with a time of 5:05.10. Alyssa Snyder added to MSU's top eight finishes, placing fifth in the 3000, clocking 10:04.01. Rachel Atwood placed 13th in 10:30.56.

MSU's heat of the 4x400 relay was a photo finish with Sacramento State for the second year in a row, with Sac just edging out the 'Cats by .17 seconds. Montana State recorded the fastest time of the season of 3:50.28.

Carter Theade made her way into the top eight of the pole vault, tying for seventh and clearing a height of 12-02.5. Jumping 36-10.5 in the triple jump earned Leah Cook an eighth place finish and one team point.

Mitchell Horning earned seven total team in two event finals, placing fourth in the 60, clocking 6.92 seconds and seventh in the 200 (22.24).

In the 400, Jadin Casey placed second his heat and fifth overall, crossing the finish line in 48.77. Another freshman, Samuel Bloom earned a time of 1:56.12 in the 800, placing sixth.

Matthew Gotta led MSU in the 3000, finished fourth with a time of 8:35.48. Justice Lamer finished 10th in 8:47.52. In the mile, Martin Ponce placed eighth, earning one team point and a time of 4:20.79.

Kevin Close and Trevor Simanski finished seventh and eighth in the triple jump with marks of 46-11.50 and 46-03.25. Kyle Douglas placed sixth in the shot put, marking a distance of 53-08.25.

Montana State's men finished fifth overall, totaling 58 points and the women placed seventh with 50.5 points. NAU's men repeated as champions, scoring 151 points. Sacramento State also became back-to-back champions with 103.5 points.

"We have a lot of rising stars on this team. I know there are a lot of people on this team who are frustrated, but that can either drive us up or knock us down. I think this team is motivated enough to use this indoor season as motivation to improve during outdoor. We have a lot of young and new faces that competed this weekend and finished in the top ten. This team is going to build and contend for a conference championship in the upcoming years."

Montana State begins the 2016 outdoor season on March 26th, hosting the MSU Open.