Photo by: Sam Bloom
Leah Klein Taking Advantage of New Opportunity at Montana State
2/20/2020 4:35:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Junior thrower Leah Klein has already made an impact for the Bobcats after transferring to MSU from Ole Miss
Junior Leah Klein completed a rare route to Bozeman, Montana. It's one that's helped her grow in confidence and put her in a position to succeed for the Montana State track and field program.
Klein has made a splash just five meets into her career at Montana State. She already owns MSU's ninth-best mark in the shot put. She currently sits fifth on the Big Sky performance list in the event as well as 10th in the weight throw going into the Big Sky Tuner in Worthington Arena on Friday.
"She came in with so much knowledge about the throwing events and so much strength," MSU throws coach Jennifer Allen said. "She already had those tools, so she just needed a space to make them hers. A lot of what we've done is just getting to know each other. She's so receptive to help working through technique which is great."
Klein said she's already looking ahead to the Big Sky Championships that start in less than two weeks. It's an experience she said will bring out the best of her.
"It's definitely been fun," Klein said of her indoor season. "I think one my big things is, I'm a pretty consistent thrower. I'll throw the same thing over and over and increase by inches and inches every time. Other people may be more inconsistent but have those big marks. For me, it's knowing that I can do it this way that sets me up well. I know that I have that in me and I'm definitely a competitor."
The pressure at a championship meet will be at a high next week, but it's welcomed pressure that comes with a new start.
Klein graduated from Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota, having competed against some of the best in the state. She made two trips to the MSHSL Class AA State Championships. That meet features competition from the biggest schools in Minnesota. Klein was able to earn a fourth-place finish as a junior in the shot put and a silver medal in the discus by the time her prep career came to an end in 2017.
Her accolades led her to Ole Miss for her first two collegiate seasons. Klein had modest improvements in her throwing events for the Rebels. She participated in the 2020 SEC Outdoor Championships, but sought a change after her sophomore season.
That move has aided both sides.
"For her, Montana State is a great fit," Allen said. "The state of Montana, being outdoors, having the seasons, mountains and all of that, has been great for her.
"The biggest thing is the fit with the team. She came in and fit in with the throws group right away. She's added so much and benefitted from them and their support."
Klien said – while adding it was a cliché – it felt like fate to her to have the opportunity to attend Montana State and compete for the Bobcats. She plans to pursue a graduate degree from MSU in exercise science, which connects her athletic and academic ambitions.
"I flew in and I looked outside and said 'oh my gosh, there's mountains everywhere,'" said Klein on her initial visit to Bozeman. "It was kind of cool, I hadn't really seen that. The experience to have grad school too, I knew that was something I wanted to do, and I have those years of eligibility left. Just looking at the athletic program, with Jen definitely as a coach, it just kind of felt right."
Her improvement since making her way to Bozeman has already been evident.
Klein has recorded bests of 46-06 in the shot put and 54-03.75 in the weight throw this season. Both marks topped what she'd previously set at Ole Miss. In all five events she's competed in, Klein has thrown 44 feet or more in the shot put and 51 feet or more in the weight throw.
As Klein sets her sights on the Big Sky Indoor Championships and the outdoor schedule, Allen noted a conversation the two had about Klein's improvement. They talked about what the effect happiness has had on her abilities in competition with the move to MSU the focus of that discussion.
It's what has led to a determined thrower that still has more in store.
"I think it's honestly throwing and being happy," Klein said of her strong start at MSU. "Not having those expectations on me from other people and just kind of having a different relationship with coach Jen. My focus on how I can be the best thrower is different compared to how I've looked at it in the past. Now I know what I'm doing and being confident in throwing has really helped me."
Klein has made a splash just five meets into her career at Montana State. She already owns MSU's ninth-best mark in the shot put. She currently sits fifth on the Big Sky performance list in the event as well as 10th in the weight throw going into the Big Sky Tuner in Worthington Arena on Friday.
"She came in with so much knowledge about the throwing events and so much strength," MSU throws coach Jennifer Allen said. "She already had those tools, so she just needed a space to make them hers. A lot of what we've done is just getting to know each other. She's so receptive to help working through technique which is great."
Klein said she's already looking ahead to the Big Sky Championships that start in less than two weeks. It's an experience she said will bring out the best of her.
"It's definitely been fun," Klein said of her indoor season. "I think one my big things is, I'm a pretty consistent thrower. I'll throw the same thing over and over and increase by inches and inches every time. Other people may be more inconsistent but have those big marks. For me, it's knowing that I can do it this way that sets me up well. I know that I have that in me and I'm definitely a competitor."
The pressure at a championship meet will be at a high next week, but it's welcomed pressure that comes with a new start.
Klein graduated from Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, Minnesota, having competed against some of the best in the state. She made two trips to the MSHSL Class AA State Championships. That meet features competition from the biggest schools in Minnesota. Klein was able to earn a fourth-place finish as a junior in the shot put and a silver medal in the discus by the time her prep career came to an end in 2017.
Her accolades led her to Ole Miss for her first two collegiate seasons. Klein had modest improvements in her throwing events for the Rebels. She participated in the 2020 SEC Outdoor Championships, but sought a change after her sophomore season.
That move has aided both sides.
"For her, Montana State is a great fit," Allen said. "The state of Montana, being outdoors, having the seasons, mountains and all of that, has been great for her.
"The biggest thing is the fit with the team. She came in and fit in with the throws group right away. She's added so much and benefitted from them and their support."
Klien said – while adding it was a cliché – it felt like fate to her to have the opportunity to attend Montana State and compete for the Bobcats. She plans to pursue a graduate degree from MSU in exercise science, which connects her athletic and academic ambitions.
"I flew in and I looked outside and said 'oh my gosh, there's mountains everywhere,'" said Klein on her initial visit to Bozeman. "It was kind of cool, I hadn't really seen that. The experience to have grad school too, I knew that was something I wanted to do, and I have those years of eligibility left. Just looking at the athletic program, with Jen definitely as a coach, it just kind of felt right."
Her improvement since making her way to Bozeman has already been evident.
Klein has recorded bests of 46-06 in the shot put and 54-03.75 in the weight throw this season. Both marks topped what she'd previously set at Ole Miss. In all five events she's competed in, Klein has thrown 44 feet or more in the shot put and 51 feet or more in the weight throw.
As Klein sets her sights on the Big Sky Indoor Championships and the outdoor schedule, Allen noted a conversation the two had about Klein's improvement. They talked about what the effect happiness has had on her abilities in competition with the move to MSU the focus of that discussion.
It's what has led to a determined thrower that still has more in store.
"I think it's honestly throwing and being happy," Klein said of her strong start at MSU. "Not having those expectations on me from other people and just kind of having a different relationship with coach Jen. My focus on how I can be the best thrower is different compared to how I've looked at it in the past. Now I know what I'm doing and being confident in throwing has really helped me."
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