Photo by: Derek Johnson
Bobcat Third-Year Throwers Breaking Out
3/31/2021 12:17:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Montana State's Madi Arneson, Josh Mertz and Ethan Saberhagen are starting to see the pay off from hard work during their third seasons at Montana State
Just a year ago at this time Jennifer Allen's throws group was hoping to build off the steady progress it had made. Though it may be a year later than they initially expected, Montana State's throwers are starting to see the results of patience and hard work.
The 2019-20 indoor season was supposed to help springboard Allen's young throws group into the outdoor season. Several Bobcats specialize in events that take place in the outdoor season and that work was set to carry over from the winter to spring. When the 2020 outdoor slate was canceled, that changed the trajectory many of the athletes had set for themselves.
"It was definitely frustrating because I put in a lot of work during the offseason and even indoor," Ethan Saberhagen said. "I don't really compete a whole lot indoor, so I'd be been putting in a lot of work for outdoor so it was frustrating to put in a whole year's worth of work and to have it canceled. I think it paid off though because I was throwing farther than I had and I still am."
Saberhagen, along with his teammate Josh Mertz, are both in their third seasons as a member of the men's squad at Montana State. Mertz had a similar outlook as Saberhagen as the Bobcat throwers have started to see results in their training despite last season's missed outdoor schedule.
"I was really disappointed about the outdoor season because I was super excited for it and where things were headed… I look around and see a lot of people on our team headed in the right direction. You can definitely tell when you're ready for a breakthrough. Being older, I can feel that more."
The process in the different throws is encompassing and can take time for many throwers. Not only is every thrower building their body up to compete at the college level, but they're also working on the intricacies that take place in their event. It's a method of progression that's starting to take root with Allen's group.
"When they come in we definitely talk about starting at the basics and building back up," Allen said. "A lot of them were really successful at the high school level, but at the Division I level, a lot of people are at their same marks.
"You talk about the process and that it's going to take time. You have to trust the weight room, trust the technique, and we'll build up to that. I think they're really at that build up point where they're going to see breakthroughs."
Mertz and Saberhagen are starting to see those improvements along with another third-year thrower in Madi Arneson. She said Allen's coaching has taken root over the last couple years in her training that have led her to this point in her college career.
"For me the process works in practice," Arneson said. "You may not be throwing far that day, but what you're working on is technique. Getting it done in the ring will let it go farther. My technique feels so sturdy and I'm aware of it now. In high school, I was just throwing and not knowing what I'm doing. Now I'm able to process things to improve on what I'm currently doing."
For all three of the Bobcat third-year throwers, their training is starting to take shape. Allen is now having her trio of Bobcats go out, take what they've been taught and go full out for their best individual results.
"We talk a lot about technique," Allen said. "I think that's also one of our faults is that we talk about it so much. We sometimes forget about just going out to throw and compete.
"This fall we spent the last couple of weeks just throwing. Just enjoy throwing and getting after it and get those kind of repetitions to just compete. You're strong enough to just go out and compete. They're much stronger in the outdoor events than the indoor, so we were keeping that in perspective over the winter."
Mertz recently put together his strongest indoor season as a Bobcat. He consistently put up marks in the shot put over 52 feet and had two weight throws over 55 feet to end the indoor slate. He placed first among competitors in two out of six events.
Saberhagen and Arneson have put up their best performances so far this outdoor season.
Saberhagen joined MSU's all-time top 10 in the discus in the program's opening meet in Sacramento, then followed it up by improving on his lifetime best in the event to 169 feet, 10 inches. Arneson previously took sixth at the 2019 Big Sky Outdoor Championships with a throw in the discus of 147 feet. This past weekend in Missoula, she recorded a toss of 152 feet, 9 inches, putting her ninth all-time on the Bobcat women's all-time top 10 chart.
It's just the first step for Arneson, Mertz and Saberhagen. Now that their improved marks are becoming evident, the results for each individually and points for their teams will come with it.
"I think in track you can always get better regardless," Arneson said of her recent years of improvement. "You can't really go in expecting to win everything, especially at this level because everyone is just like you. Everyone is wanting to win and compete. I think you have to take whatever your coach has to say and putting that into your technique and work. You have to trust the coach, yourself and process can help yourself in competition."
While the Bobcat men's and women's track and field teams have participated in just two meets this outdoor season, the Big Sky Outdoor Championships are just a little over a month away from starting. Though things can change at any moment, especially as most track and field teams across the country, the Montana State throws group is going to take things in stride no matter how the outdoor season plays out.
"It's been a lot of fun because we are so close," Saberhagen said of his experience with his teammates at MSU. "We've been to meets together just as throwers, with the team, it's just great to be a part of. A lot of times you're at the track watching different events, we're one group of people watching each other and cheering for each other. It's a lot of fun."
The 2019-20 indoor season was supposed to help springboard Allen's young throws group into the outdoor season. Several Bobcats specialize in events that take place in the outdoor season and that work was set to carry over from the winter to spring. When the 2020 outdoor slate was canceled, that changed the trajectory many of the athletes had set for themselves.
"It was definitely frustrating because I put in a lot of work during the offseason and even indoor," Ethan Saberhagen said. "I don't really compete a whole lot indoor, so I'd be been putting in a lot of work for outdoor so it was frustrating to put in a whole year's worth of work and to have it canceled. I think it paid off though because I was throwing farther than I had and I still am."
Saberhagen, along with his teammate Josh Mertz, are both in their third seasons as a member of the men's squad at Montana State. Mertz had a similar outlook as Saberhagen as the Bobcat throwers have started to see results in their training despite last season's missed outdoor schedule.
"I was really disappointed about the outdoor season because I was super excited for it and where things were headed… I look around and see a lot of people on our team headed in the right direction. You can definitely tell when you're ready for a breakthrough. Being older, I can feel that more."
The process in the different throws is encompassing and can take time for many throwers. Not only is every thrower building their body up to compete at the college level, but they're also working on the intricacies that take place in their event. It's a method of progression that's starting to take root with Allen's group.
"When they come in we definitely talk about starting at the basics and building back up," Allen said. "A lot of them were really successful at the high school level, but at the Division I level, a lot of people are at their same marks.
"You talk about the process and that it's going to take time. You have to trust the weight room, trust the technique, and we'll build up to that. I think they're really at that build up point where they're going to see breakthroughs."
Mertz and Saberhagen are starting to see those improvements along with another third-year thrower in Madi Arneson. She said Allen's coaching has taken root over the last couple years in her training that have led her to this point in her college career.
"For me the process works in practice," Arneson said. "You may not be throwing far that day, but what you're working on is technique. Getting it done in the ring will let it go farther. My technique feels so sturdy and I'm aware of it now. In high school, I was just throwing and not knowing what I'm doing. Now I'm able to process things to improve on what I'm currently doing."
For all three of the Bobcat third-year throwers, their training is starting to take shape. Allen is now having her trio of Bobcats go out, take what they've been taught and go full out for their best individual results.
"We talk a lot about technique," Allen said. "I think that's also one of our faults is that we talk about it so much. We sometimes forget about just going out to throw and compete.
"This fall we spent the last couple of weeks just throwing. Just enjoy throwing and getting after it and get those kind of repetitions to just compete. You're strong enough to just go out and compete. They're much stronger in the outdoor events than the indoor, so we were keeping that in perspective over the winter."
Mertz recently put together his strongest indoor season as a Bobcat. He consistently put up marks in the shot put over 52 feet and had two weight throws over 55 feet to end the indoor slate. He placed first among competitors in two out of six events.
Saberhagen and Arneson have put up their best performances so far this outdoor season.
Saberhagen joined MSU's all-time top 10 in the discus in the program's opening meet in Sacramento, then followed it up by improving on his lifetime best in the event to 169 feet, 10 inches. Arneson previously took sixth at the 2019 Big Sky Outdoor Championships with a throw in the discus of 147 feet. This past weekend in Missoula, she recorded a toss of 152 feet, 9 inches, putting her ninth all-time on the Bobcat women's all-time top 10 chart.
It's just the first step for Arneson, Mertz and Saberhagen. Now that their improved marks are becoming evident, the results for each individually and points for their teams will come with it.
"I think in track you can always get better regardless," Arneson said of her recent years of improvement. "You can't really go in expecting to win everything, especially at this level because everyone is just like you. Everyone is wanting to win and compete. I think you have to take whatever your coach has to say and putting that into your technique and work. You have to trust the coach, yourself and process can help yourself in competition."
While the Bobcat men's and women's track and field teams have participated in just two meets this outdoor season, the Big Sky Outdoor Championships are just a little over a month away from starting. Though things can change at any moment, especially as most track and field teams across the country, the Montana State throws group is going to take things in stride no matter how the outdoor season plays out.
"It's been a lot of fun because we are so close," Saberhagen said of his experience with his teammates at MSU. "We've been to meets together just as throwers, with the team, it's just great to be a part of. A lot of times you're at the track watching different events, we're one group of people watching each other and cheering for each other. It's a lot of fun."
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field2022 Big Sky Outdoor Championships
Monday, May 16
Track and Field Big Sky Championships
Monday, February 18
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 11, 2013
Tuesday, February 12
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 4, 2013
Tuesday, February 05
