Bobcat Track & Field Adds Two to Start Signing Period
12/6/2018 9:48:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field
Levi Taylor and Lucas Jepsen have signed their National Letters of Intent to join MSU track and field in the fall of 2019
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State track and field opened its 2018-19 season on Saturday and has begun the process to prepare for when this year concludes. The Bobcats have received two National Letters of Intent from student-athletes that have achieved state championship honors to start the Signing Period.
Laurel's Levi Taylor and Lucas Jepsen of Albuquerque, N.M., have submitted their NLIs to join the Montana State program in the fall of 2019. The signing period began on Nov. 14 and runs until the final date of Aug. 1, 2019.
"It's exciting to have two outstanding athletes sign NLIs and be able to use that momentum going forward in the recruiting process," said Lyle Weese, Montana State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. "With the signing period open indefinitely, as opposed to one week in the fall, it has changed things so there's not an intense pressure to sign or not sign during a one-week period. It's way more open ended, which means we'll have more signees trickle in throughout the winter and spring."
Taylor has played a significant role on Laurel's cross country and track and field teams during his prep career. This fall, Taylor completed back-to-back individual MHSA Class A State Cross Country Championships by finishing with a time of 16:18.3. His senior cross country campaign was highlighted by a lifetime-best mark of 15:51.7 in a 5-mile race and he improved 57 spots from his junior year to senior year appearances at the Nike Northwest Regional Championships, taking 39th in a time of 16:06.7. Taylor finished first in 13 meets over the final two years running for the Locomotives' cross country squad.
The Laurel High School product has had similar success during the spring in track. As a junior in 2018, Taylor claimed both Class A distance titles by taking first in the 1,600 (4:26.57) and 3,200 (9:43.80). He ran in the 3,200 nine times last spring and finished first in each appearance, along with earning the fastest time in the 1,600 in nine of 10 races he competed in. Taylor set lifetime bests of 4:21.63 in the 1,600 and 9:27.54 in the 3,200.
Taylor heads into his final track and field schedule this spring having made the Class A State podium four times, making trips to the meet since his freshman year and holding claim to 40 first-place finishes in races.
"I think he'll fit in really well with the (distance) group," Weese said. "He knows a lot of the individuals on the team. He's really close to Ty Mogan and he's been to our running camp a couple times over the years, so I'm pretty familiar with him.
"He's won a lot of state championships and had success at the Class A level. He's the third fairly recent Laurel distance athlete after Patrick Casey and Mogan that have had success at Laurel and then attended MSU."
Jepsen will add a championship prep pedigree to the Bobcat jumps events. The Albuquerque Academy product claimed his second consecutive NMAA 5A State Championship in the triple jump, and first in the long jump, as a junior this past spring. Jepsen also placed fourth at the state meet in the 300 hurdles. His junior year was capped with a combined 13 first-place finishes and a lifetime-best mark of 23-01.75 in the long jump.
The Albuquerque native made his first appearance at the state meet as a sophomore competing in both the triple jump and long jump. He won his first triple jump state title by reaching a personal-best mark of 46-02.
Jepsen has been a standout for the Chargers, receiving four letters in track and field and three in soccer. He is a two-time member of Albuquerque Academy state championship soccer teams, earning all-district accolades twice and earning district player of the year honors as a senior. Jepsen has received Letters of Commendation in chemistry and history and has worked as a student intern for Sandia National Labs. He plans to pursue a major in mechanical engineering.
"I feel like he'll definitely be a good long jumper and triple jumper for us," MSU jumps coach Tom Eitel said. "He should be able to place at the conference right away in those events based off his junior year marks. He can run the 400 meters, he can do a lot of things. I think he has the potential to be a very good multi for us. He's going to get stronger and faster and it shows in his track and soccer background.
"Lucas has been interested in MSU for a long time. He came on a visit during the summer and he likes the area, likes the school and loves the engineering department. He's a guy we're really excited about coming to Montana State."
The Montana State track and field teams return to action at the start of the New Year. The Bobcats will host a Multis Meet from Jan. 7-8, then welcome a variety of teams to Worthington Arena for the Montana State Open on Jan. 11.
Laurel's Levi Taylor and Lucas Jepsen of Albuquerque, N.M., have submitted their NLIs to join the Montana State program in the fall of 2019. The signing period began on Nov. 14 and runs until the final date of Aug. 1, 2019.
"It's exciting to have two outstanding athletes sign NLIs and be able to use that momentum going forward in the recruiting process," said Lyle Weese, Montana State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. "With the signing period open indefinitely, as opposed to one week in the fall, it has changed things so there's not an intense pressure to sign or not sign during a one-week period. It's way more open ended, which means we'll have more signees trickle in throughout the winter and spring."
Taylor has played a significant role on Laurel's cross country and track and field teams during his prep career. This fall, Taylor completed back-to-back individual MHSA Class A State Cross Country Championships by finishing with a time of 16:18.3. His senior cross country campaign was highlighted by a lifetime-best mark of 15:51.7 in a 5-mile race and he improved 57 spots from his junior year to senior year appearances at the Nike Northwest Regional Championships, taking 39th in a time of 16:06.7. Taylor finished first in 13 meets over the final two years running for the Locomotives' cross country squad.
The Laurel High School product has had similar success during the spring in track. As a junior in 2018, Taylor claimed both Class A distance titles by taking first in the 1,600 (4:26.57) and 3,200 (9:43.80). He ran in the 3,200 nine times last spring and finished first in each appearance, along with earning the fastest time in the 1,600 in nine of 10 races he competed in. Taylor set lifetime bests of 4:21.63 in the 1,600 and 9:27.54 in the 3,200.
Taylor heads into his final track and field schedule this spring having made the Class A State podium four times, making trips to the meet since his freshman year and holding claim to 40 first-place finishes in races.
"I think he'll fit in really well with the (distance) group," Weese said. "He knows a lot of the individuals on the team. He's really close to Ty Mogan and he's been to our running camp a couple times over the years, so I'm pretty familiar with him.
"He's won a lot of state championships and had success at the Class A level. He's the third fairly recent Laurel distance athlete after Patrick Casey and Mogan that have had success at Laurel and then attended MSU."
Jepsen will add a championship prep pedigree to the Bobcat jumps events. The Albuquerque Academy product claimed his second consecutive NMAA 5A State Championship in the triple jump, and first in the long jump, as a junior this past spring. Jepsen also placed fourth at the state meet in the 300 hurdles. His junior year was capped with a combined 13 first-place finishes and a lifetime-best mark of 23-01.75 in the long jump.
The Albuquerque native made his first appearance at the state meet as a sophomore competing in both the triple jump and long jump. He won his first triple jump state title by reaching a personal-best mark of 46-02.
Jepsen has been a standout for the Chargers, receiving four letters in track and field and three in soccer. He is a two-time member of Albuquerque Academy state championship soccer teams, earning all-district accolades twice and earning district player of the year honors as a senior. Jepsen has received Letters of Commendation in chemistry and history and has worked as a student intern for Sandia National Labs. He plans to pursue a major in mechanical engineering.
"I feel like he'll definitely be a good long jumper and triple jumper for us," MSU jumps coach Tom Eitel said. "He should be able to place at the conference right away in those events based off his junior year marks. He can run the 400 meters, he can do a lot of things. I think he has the potential to be a very good multi for us. He's going to get stronger and faster and it shows in his track and soccer background.
"Lucas has been interested in MSU for a long time. He came on a visit during the summer and he likes the area, likes the school and loves the engineering department. He's a guy we're really excited about coming to Montana State."
The Montana State track and field teams return to action at the start of the New Year. The Bobcats will host a Multis Meet from Jan. 7-8, then welcome a variety of teams to Worthington Arena for the Montana State Open on Jan. 11.
Players Mentioned
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