Bobcats Set to Host Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships

Thursday, February 24

BOZEMAN

10 a.m.

Montana State University

BSC Indoor Championships - Day One

Tickets

Bobcats Set to Host Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships

2/22/2022 3:33:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Championship Central

The Montana State track and field team is ready to host a conference meet in its home confines as the Bobcats take part in the 2022 Big Sky Indoor Championships held in Worthington Arena

By: Andrew Pedersen

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State track and field team is ready to host a conference meet in its home confines as the Bobcats take part in the 2022 Big Sky Indoor Championships held in Worthington Arena.

The multi events open competition on Thursday at 10 a.m. They wrap up with the final action of the men's heptathlon starting at 10 a.m. Friday. Individual events of the conference championships kick off at 3 p.m. Friday while the final day of the meet has events begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

"We are definitely at an advantage competing at our home track and field facility," said Lyle Weese, Montana State Dale Kennedy Director of Track and Field. "Whether it's the jumpers, throwers, sprinters or distance runners, but I think especially those that are doing the oval events. Anybody used to the 200-meter flat track will have an edge."

The Bobcats' last appearance hosting the Big Sky Indoor Championships served as one of their better results from a team performance in recent memory. At the 2019 meet, both the men's and women's teams finished runner-up in the standings. Montana State heads into this season's meet with multiple high-level performers.

The Bobcats look to contend with some of the best competitors in the nation. The latest USTFCCCA Big Sky Conference Track and Field Rating Index listed the MSU men's team (272.37 points) third in the standings behind Northern Arizona (654.88) and Idaho (456.05). The 'Cats rank ahead of Weber State (264.87) and Idaho State (210.98). In the National TFRI, NAU is slotted as the 12th ranked team at the Division I level while the Bobcats are the next highest rated men's program at 68th in the country. Southern Utah is the third highest ranked team in the national index at 89th.

The Big Sky has 10 male athletes that rank in the top 25 in at least one event of the NCAA's indoor season performance list. They will be either trying to boost a current mark that ranks in a qualifying spot for the NCAA meet or trying to find their way into the top 16.

NAU has five athletes ranked among the top 25 individuals in an event. Abdihamid Nur has three top 16 times, which includes the second fastest mark in the country in the 3,000 (7:40.66). Nico Young also represents the Lumberjacks with the third fastest mile (3:54.07) in the country along with the sixth best 5,000 (13:22.59).

The Bobcats have two athletes trying to bolster NCAA indoor meet spots. Duncan Hamilton sits 10th in the 3,000 with a mark of 7:45.20. Colby Wilson is tied for 16th in the pole vault with his lifetime best clearance of 17-07.75 (5.38m). Three other individuals have near NCAA qualification marks within the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado's Qwazon Al-Khaliq stands at 16th currently in the triple jump with a mark of 52-07.75 (16.03m). Nate Osterstock of Southern Utah is 17th in the mile with his time of 3;56.16. Grady Leonard of Idaho will pace the men's weight throw field this weekend with his 22nd best toss in the NCAA this season of 70-05.25 (21.47m).

"It's going to be really exciting to see the men's competition across the board," Weese said. "There aren't too many events that are particularly weak. I expect the fields to be great in all the events. In certain events, I'm looking forward to seeing how our athletes compete against some of the very best in the country."

The women's competition at the Big Sky meet will feature a variety of teams battling in the standings over the three-day span. NAU sits atop the Big Sky TFRI at 585.19 points. The Jacks are followed by a variety of teams in Idaho State (327.71), Idaho (301.63), Weber State (260.62), Montana State (233.86), Eastern Washington (223.61) and Southern Utah (212.58). In all, NAU leads the field with 36 top 10 marks on the Big Sky performance list heading into the championship. Idaho State sits with 19 top 10 marks or times and is followed by Idaho (17), Weber State (16), MSU (12) and Montana (12).

Three individuals are currently in the NCAA qualification discussion for the women's competition. MSU's Lucy Corbett has the second-best high jump in the nation with her personal-best clearance of 6-02 (1.88m) her last time out. Portland State's Katie Camarena is ranked third in the mile (4:32.47) and 11th in the 3,000 (8:57.08). Allison Pray of Southern Utah sits at 18th in the 3,000 with her top time of the season of 9:02.46.

"It looks like on the women's side the scores are going to be very close," Weese said. "Just a few points could put you from second to sixth place, so we're going to have to go out and compete to our very best level and maximize the points that we can get in all event areas.

Montana State will look to its standouts to pick up high points towards the Bobcat team totals this weekend.

Record setters this season in Macy White (women's 60), Elena Carter (women's 60 hurdles), Lucy Corbett (women's high jump), Duncan Hamilton (men's 3,000), Ben Perrin (men's 5,000), Derrick Olsen (men's 60 hurdles) and Colby Wilson (men's pole vault) are among the leaders in their events heading into the meet. Carter is second on the Big Sky's performance list in the long jump as well, while she's joined by Morgan Evans in the top three of the 60 hurdles. MSU's Drake Schneider holds top-three positions in both the men's 200 and 400. Camila Noe stands third in the women's 3,000 field. The Bobcat men's 800 duo of Noah Majerus and Chris Bianchini are rated third and fifth in the event, respectively.

"We have had a lot of personal records through our last meet on Feb. 11," Weese said. "It's a good sign that we are headed in the right direction. Hopefully we can put together our very best meet of the indoor season at the Big Sky Championship.

The Big Sky Conference Championships will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be viewed with a subscription to the service. Heat and flight sheets can be found along with live results on AthleticLive. Attendance for multi events is free, but admission will be required for the individual events. Prices and more about the Big Sky meet can be found here.