Bobcats Ride Strong Individual Efforts to Close 2016 Big Sky Outdoor Meet

Wednesday, May 11

Sacramento, CA

TBA

Montana State University

Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships

Christie Schiel won the 800 meters on Saturday

Photo by: Trev Mozingo

Bobcats Ride Strong Individual Efforts to Close 2016 Big Sky Outdoor Meet

5/14/2016 5:54:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Kevin Close & throws duo finish second for men, Amanda Jaynes for women

By: Bill Lamberty

FINAL RESULTS

Junior Christie Schiel and senior Kevin Close personified Montana State's effort at the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships fourth and final day on Saturday.

Saturday's headliner for Montana State, Schiel won her second straight Big Sky Outdoor Championship in the 800 meters. Close, the former Bozeman High star, leaped 48-10 to finish second in the men's triple jump. Both set personal bests – a Bobcat theme over the weekend – and while Schiel was MSU's lone individual event champion (Mason Storm won the decathlon), Close led a parade of five Bobcats to reach the second-highest podium step Saturday, and his mark of 48-10 is fifth all-time at MSU.

"We had some really strong performances (Saturday)," said Bobcat head coach Dale Kennedy. "We knew we didn't come to this meet with the firepower to really challenge, but our kids competed hard and out-performed their projections. I'm really proud of the effort and the execution." Schiel's mark in the 800 was second all-time at MSU.

Kyle Douglass (176-5 in the discus) and Zach Sharp (197-1 in the hammer throw) each joined Close as all-conference honorees on the men's side. So, too, did the 4x 400 meter relay team, which recorded a 3:17.05 to finish second.Mitchell Horning recorded a 10.66 in the 100 meters, his personal best and the seventh-best mark in school history. Amanda Jaynes finished fifth in the 100 meter hurdles (14.17) with the seventh-best mark in school history, and earned all-conference honors by finishing second in the 400 hurdles.

Montana State's men finished sixth with 58 points, nine more than projected. The women placed eighth with 56.5 points, beating the projection by 12.5.

Kennedy was pleased. "It was a very good meet," he said. "We had multiple PRs (personal records) and season's bests, which is a positive sign. We lose 12 seniors who provided great leadership for the underclassmen, but we have a very strong group of returners."

MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Northern Arizona-181, 2) Montana-89.5, 3) Southern Utah-74, 4) Idaho-64, 5) Idaho State-61, 6) Montana State-58, 7) Sacramento State-54, 8) Weber State-48, 9) Eastern Washington-47, 9) Northern Colorado-47, 11) Portland State-40.5, 12) North Dakota-15

WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS: 1) Northern Arizona-120, 2) Sacramento State-96, 3) Eastern Washington-94.5; 4) North Dakota-85, 5) Montana-84.5, 6) Portland State-84, 7) Weber State-73, 8) Montana State-56.5, 9) Northern Colorado-55, 10) Idaho-37, 11) Idaho State-29.5, 12) Southern Utah-4

MEN'S RESULTS – SATURDAY FINALS
100 m: 7. Mitchell Horning, 10.66 (personal best)
5000 m: 15. Matthew Gotta, 15:43.74; 21. Justice Lamer, 16:01.06
1500 m: 12. Zachary Kughn, 4:00.39; 16. Martin Ponce, 4:05.46
Triple Jump: 2. Kevin Close, 48-10; 13. Trevor Simanski, 42-8.25
Discus: 2. Kyle Douglass, 176-5; 10. Calvin Root, 154-5
Hammer Throw: 2. Zach Sharp, 197-1; 4. Calvin Root, 189-9
High Jump: 9. Aidan Pedersen, 6-5
4 x 100 Relay: 10. 41.93
4 x 400 Relay: 8. 3:17.05

WOMEN'S RESULTS – SATURDAY FINALS
800 m: 1. Christie Schiel, 2:09.95 (personal best); 6. Kaylee Schmitz, 2:13.20
1500 m: 19. Louisa Serpe, 4:46.52
5000 m: 7. Alyssa Snyder, 17:40.99; 10. Rachel Atwood, 18:02.19
100 Hurdles: 5. Amanda Jaynes, 14.17
400 Hurdles: 2. Amanda Jaynes, 1:00.76
Triple Jump: 8. Leah Cook, 37-6.5
Pole Vault: 12. Carter Theade, 11-1.75
Shot Put: 17. Danielle Rider, 41-3.25; 20. Alexandra Rowland, 37-11.25
Javelin: 6. Leslie Gappa, 140-8; 8. Taylor Pfister, 135-2; 9. Dawn Blevins, 133-3; 13. Danielle Rider, 129-7
4 x 100 Relay: 8. 47.34
4 x 400 Relay: 5. 3:48.88