Mix of Montana State Athletes Shine at Stacy Dragila Invitational

Friday, January 17

Pocatello, ID

3 p.m.

Montana State University

Stacy Dragila Invitational

Photo by: Sam Bloom

Mix of Montana State Athletes Shine at Stacy Dragila Invitational

1/17/2020 9:54:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Final Results

The Bobcats completed action at Idaho State on Friday night

By: Andrew Pedersen

POCATELLO, Idaho – Montana State had several individuals step up to complete strong performances at the Stacy Dragila Invitational on Friday, Jan. 17, at Idaho State's Holt Arena.

The Bobcat track and field program was highlighted by efforts from both returners and a blend of newcomers in the program's opening meet of 2020.

MSU's women's squad was led by familiar faces in the running events. Morgan Evans, Evelyn Adams and Delaney Smith all advanced to the 60-meter hurdle finals. Evans finished first with a time of 8.72 seconds which was a lifetime best and placed her ninth on MSU's all-time top 10 list. Adams (9.12) and Smith (9.31) each took fourth and sixth, respectively.

Maddie Brockel led the Bobcats in two events. She finished third in the 60 dash finals by tying her personal-best time of 7.83, while she also took runner-up in the 200 by crossing the line in 25.77. McKenna Ramsay (2:16.30) and Trisha Carlson (2:16.47) finished in the top two spots of the women's 800. Gillian Maness had MSU's top showing in the mile with her personal-best time of 5:04.87.

The Bobcat men had standout efforts from underclassmen on the track. Bradley Graves and Derrick Olsen each advanced to the 60 hurdle finals. Graves finished runner-up with a time of 8.06 which was good for the third fastest time in program history. Olsen placed fourth in the event. Will Prettyman continued MSU's short sprints success by taking second in the 60 dash finals with a time of 6.97 seconds. He was joined in the finals by Casey Gunlikson who clocked a mark of 7.01 for fourth place.

Freshman Levi Taylor claimed a first-place finish in the men's 800 in his first appearance as a Bobcat. He completed a time of 4:16.48 while Gannon Chamberlain completed a personal-best mark of 4:22.10 in the event and took fourth.

Leah Klein and Josh Mertz put together MSU's strongest performances in the throws. Klein took first in both the women's shot put and weight throw. Her throw of 46 feet, 6 inches (14.17m) in the shot put was the ninth best mark in MSU history. She also tossed a personal best as a 'Cat in the weight throw with her mark of 54-03.75 (16.55m). Mertz also completed two lifetime bests. He placed third in the weight throw by completing a mark of 53-01 (16.18m) and fourth in the shot put with a throw of 51-03.50 (14.59m).

Noah Martin had MSU jumps' best finish as he placed first in the men's high jump by clearing 6-09.75 (2.08m). Alex Hellenberg had a second-place showing in the women's long jump and third-place showing in the high jump.

The Bobcat men's team showed depth in the 800 as Cameron Carroll, Noah Majerus and Riley Collins took three of the top eight spots in the event. The Bobcat women's squad had five individual finish in the top eight of the long jump which included Hellenberg, Twila Reovan, Elena Carter, A'lena Chaney and Adams.

Earning top-five finishes on the day were Jared Schwend, Caleb Neth, Amber Prevedello, Madi Arneson and Lindsay Benson. MSU's Schwend, Benson, Chaney, Carter Slade, Alex Hershey and Megan Good all improved on previous best marks in at least one event.

The Bobcat men's and women's track and field teams return to Bozeman for their next meet. Worthington Arena will play host to the MSU Dual Invitational starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.