Photo by: Nate Barrett
Kyle Douglass Cherishes Final Opportunity to Represent Montana State
6/7/2018 4:00:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
Douglass caps a stellar career in the Blue and Gold when he represents Montana State in the men’s discus finals at 6 p.m. at Hayward Field in Eugene on Friday
The beard that senior Kyle Douglass sports has continued to grow as his outdoor season hits a new stage. The beard hangs on for dear life with the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships awaiting the Montana State thrower on Friday.
Douglass said his wife, the former Bobcat thrower Callen Crawford, likes it. He's on the fence about it. The Missoula native isn't taking any chances with his upcoming debut on track and field's biggest stage.
"I'm going to trim it after Nationals, probably get rid of it," Douglass said. "I'll be a little cooler during summer. I didn't really keep it because of track, just kept it for the last month or so because I didn't want to change much."
It's hard to argue with his logic.
Douglass caps a stellar career in the Blue and Gold when he represents Montana State in the men's discus finals at 6 p.m. at Hayward Field in Eugene on Friday, May 8.
The Bobcat senior makes his first appearance at the University of Oregon's historic track complex. His season had stopped short previously at the Big Sky Conference Championships as a freshman, then back-to-back stops at the NCAA West Preliminary Round as a sophomore and junior.
Douglass will get to be the third Bobcat to compete in the discus at the NCAA meet, joining the likes of Josh Henigman (2005) and Lance Deal (1984). But, the dwindling season has felt strange to Douglass since the end of the Big Sky meet a little less than a month ago.
"I felt like this season was ending right around conference time because my teammates are everything to me," Douglass said. "That's when most people's season ended, so I've been missing them for sure. That was probably the hardest thing to get through. It goes from being the greatest team sport to more of an individual thing once you get out of conference."
Douglass said he's been pushed to this point because of the camaraderie of his fellow Bobcats.
The seven-time all-conference honoree mentioned his supporting cast as strong influences on his success throughout his time at MSU. Douglass wrapped up his Big Sky tenure by placing second indoors in the shot put, repeating the feat during the outdoor season, then earning the conference title in the discus.
The success in the throws department didn't just come from the Missoula Sentinel product.
Calvin Root claimed the gold medal at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw and earned runner-up in the weight throw at the Big Sky Indoor Championships this season. Alec Nehring – a Manhattan, Mont., native – completed his first all-conference showing of his career at the Big Sky indoor meet by taking third in the shot put. He closed his sophomore campaign out at the outdoor championships by contributing to MSU's team score with a fifth-place finish in the discus.
"I couldn't complain about my teammates and I love the guys next to me," Douglass said. "We all have very different stories. Alec was a 60-foot high school thrower near Bozeman, I come from across the Great Divide and Calvin is from way down in Arizona. For some reason, we just get along really well.
"We've pushed each other and worked together. We're always joking about outlifting one another, out working one another, nothing is really off limits. It's been great having two brothers on the team."
Douglass believes he's also benefited from the lessons that have been taught by a strong coaching staff.
His first all-conference performance came under the tutelage of former throws coach Mike Carignan. As a sophomore, Douglass, placed second at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the discus. A couple years later, Douglass holds the second-best marks in program history in both the outdoor shot put and discus, with those feats coming under the watchful eyes of Carignan and current throws coach Jennifer Allen.
"Buying into their systems was key," Douglass said. "I truly believe that coach Carignan is one of the greatest minds in college throwing and knowing that was very easing to my mind as I was training and growing as a thrower. I threw the disc alright in high school – I had a great throwing coach in high school who just retired this year – but coming here I wasn't that great of a shot putter. When I got here, I turned that around in a year and that started to be a strong suit for me to help the team out. I never really wanted to be a good shot putter, but by the end of it, I didn't want to put the shot put down.
"Carignan was great and coach (Jennifer) Allen has been amazing this last year. We haven't changed a lot of major things, but definitely a lot of mental things. How I think, go about a meet, she definitely understands me as an athlete and a person. She's really helped my throwing out."
Douglass said he's happy knowing his collegiate career in a Montana State uniform will end in Eugene. He's went from no podium appearances as a freshman, to a three-time participant at the west regionals, and now he's among the best in the nation in his discipline.
On Friday, it's all about taking the moment in and looking back on his overall experience as a Bobcat.
"MSU doesn't make a run at the national title, so just trying to get people (to Eugene) is our main goal," Douglass said. "It's been great. It's been fun. I've got to do track for a month without school. Can't complain about that.
"Definitely a great way to finish my career."
Douglass said his wife, the former Bobcat thrower Callen Crawford, likes it. He's on the fence about it. The Missoula native isn't taking any chances with his upcoming debut on track and field's biggest stage.
"I'm going to trim it after Nationals, probably get rid of it," Douglass said. "I'll be a little cooler during summer. I didn't really keep it because of track, just kept it for the last month or so because I didn't want to change much."
It's hard to argue with his logic.
Douglass caps a stellar career in the Blue and Gold when he represents Montana State in the men's discus finals at 6 p.m. at Hayward Field in Eugene on Friday, May 8.
The Bobcat senior makes his first appearance at the University of Oregon's historic track complex. His season had stopped short previously at the Big Sky Conference Championships as a freshman, then back-to-back stops at the NCAA West Preliminary Round as a sophomore and junior.
Douglass will get to be the third Bobcat to compete in the discus at the NCAA meet, joining the likes of Josh Henigman (2005) and Lance Deal (1984). But, the dwindling season has felt strange to Douglass since the end of the Big Sky meet a little less than a month ago.
"I felt like this season was ending right around conference time because my teammates are everything to me," Douglass said. "That's when most people's season ended, so I've been missing them for sure. That was probably the hardest thing to get through. It goes from being the greatest team sport to more of an individual thing once you get out of conference."
Douglass said he's been pushed to this point because of the camaraderie of his fellow Bobcats.
The seven-time all-conference honoree mentioned his supporting cast as strong influences on his success throughout his time at MSU. Douglass wrapped up his Big Sky tenure by placing second indoors in the shot put, repeating the feat during the outdoor season, then earning the conference title in the discus.
The success in the throws department didn't just come from the Missoula Sentinel product.
Calvin Root claimed the gold medal at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw and earned runner-up in the weight throw at the Big Sky Indoor Championships this season. Alec Nehring – a Manhattan, Mont., native – completed his first all-conference showing of his career at the Big Sky indoor meet by taking third in the shot put. He closed his sophomore campaign out at the outdoor championships by contributing to MSU's team score with a fifth-place finish in the discus.
"I couldn't complain about my teammates and I love the guys next to me," Douglass said. "We all have very different stories. Alec was a 60-foot high school thrower near Bozeman, I come from across the Great Divide and Calvin is from way down in Arizona. For some reason, we just get along really well.
"We've pushed each other and worked together. We're always joking about outlifting one another, out working one another, nothing is really off limits. It's been great having two brothers on the team."
Douglass believes he's also benefited from the lessons that have been taught by a strong coaching staff.
His first all-conference performance came under the tutelage of former throws coach Mike Carignan. As a sophomore, Douglass, placed second at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships in the discus. A couple years later, Douglass holds the second-best marks in program history in both the outdoor shot put and discus, with those feats coming under the watchful eyes of Carignan and current throws coach Jennifer Allen.
"Buying into their systems was key," Douglass said. "I truly believe that coach Carignan is one of the greatest minds in college throwing and knowing that was very easing to my mind as I was training and growing as a thrower. I threw the disc alright in high school – I had a great throwing coach in high school who just retired this year – but coming here I wasn't that great of a shot putter. When I got here, I turned that around in a year and that started to be a strong suit for me to help the team out. I never really wanted to be a good shot putter, but by the end of it, I didn't want to put the shot put down.
"Carignan was great and coach (Jennifer) Allen has been amazing this last year. We haven't changed a lot of major things, but definitely a lot of mental things. How I think, go about a meet, she definitely understands me as an athlete and a person. She's really helped my throwing out."
Douglass said he's happy knowing his collegiate career in a Montana State uniform will end in Eugene. He's went from no podium appearances as a freshman, to a three-time participant at the west regionals, and now he's among the best in the nation in his discipline.
On Friday, it's all about taking the moment in and looking back on his overall experience as a Bobcat.
"MSU doesn't make a run at the national title, so just trying to get people (to Eugene) is our main goal," Douglass said. "It's been great. It's been fun. I've got to do track for a month without school. Can't complain about that.
"Definitely a great way to finish my career."
Players Mentioned
Throws
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