Bobcat Cross Country and Track and Field Inks 12 Distance Signees for 2023-2024
7/22/2023 11:16:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Head coach Lyle Weese announces seven women, five men to join Montana State distance groups
BOZEMAN, Montana – The Montana State cross country and track and field program will welcome 12 newcomers to the distance groups this fall, head coach Lyle Weese announced.
Comprised of seven additions to the women's team and five to the men's squad, the group features a trio of transfers and both state and national champions from as close as Montana and as far as Australia.
The Bobcat men's cross country team is coming off a runner-up finish at the 2022 Big Sky Conference Championships, while the women secured a third-place spot on the podium.
On the track, the Bobcat men have secured a top-three finish in seven of the last eight possible championships appearances, including runner-up spots in each of the last three outdoor conference championships, while the women have finished as the runner-up in the last three conference championship competitions (2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor, 2023 outdoor).
"The incoming group of distance student-athletes has the potential to accomplish incredible things," Weese said. "There are individuals with great marks that will have an immediate impact and there are others that will surprise and excel with year-round training and the great mentorship of the existing student-athletes. I can't wait to get started and see how this group of newcomers can combine with the returners to write their story and take the cross country and track and field teams to even higher levels."
Malia Bradford, Sentinel HS, Missoula, Montana
Bradford joins the Montana State program after a standout career at Sentinel High School in Missoula. The distance runner broke her school's record in the 5K and is a two-time Missoulian/Republic Services girls cross country runner of the year. The Sentinel team captain placed third at the AA state meet in cross country and placed sixth at the state outdoor track meet in the 1,600-meters before being named the Sentinel High 2022-2023 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year. Bradford's junior season saw her finish tenth at the state meet in cross country, sixth at the state outdoor track championships in the 1,600-meters, and fourth in the 3,200-meters. Bradford holds personal bests of 5:20 in the 1,600-meters, 11:34 in the 3,200 meters, and 18:33 in a cross country five-kilometer race.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Malia!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/JAJqTj4J6Y
Kyla Christopher-Moody, West Bloomfield HS, Colorado, West Bloomfield, Michigan
Christopher-Moody joins the Bobcats as a graduate transfer from Colorado, where she ran three years for the Buffs. During the 2021 track and field season, the distance runner placed 28th at the Pac-12 Championships in the 5,000-meters and 18th in the 10,000-meters at the same meet. In 2020, Christopher-Moody placed seventh at the six-kilometer FSU Winter Classic and second at the six-kilometer Battle Born Collegiate Challenge. The former Buff holds personal records of 16:30.75 in the 5,000-meters, 21:05 in the cross country six-kilometers, and 35:17.37 in the 10,000-meters.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Kyla!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/QWiEbffbJK
Annie Kaul, Plentywood HS, Plentywood, Montana
Kaul comes to Bozeman after a medal-filled career at Plentywood HS, where she collected four top-two finishes in the Class C State Cross Country Meet, including a state championship last season. The talented athlete also took home state championships during her junior year in the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles, and the pole vault, helping Plentywood collect a team state championship at the outdoor Class C meet. Kaul's sophomore year saw her collect a state championship in the 3,200-meters at the outdoor state meet, and the Treasure State native was also an all-conference basketball player for the Wildcats. Kaul holds personal records of 5:21.55 in the 1,600 meters, 11:43.85 in the 3,200 meters, and 18:50 in the cross country five-kilometers.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Annie!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/mn7UrEPBwd
Eva Koos, Mukwonago HS, Mukwonago, Wisconsin
Koos joins the Montana State program from Mukwonago High School in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, where she earned First Team All-State accolades in cross country, placing 12th at the WIAA DI state meet this past season. On the track, Koos ended her prep career by setting the indoor 800-meter school record (2:18), and placing second at the state indoor championships meet. The Wisconsin product also set the school record in the 1,600-meters (4:57.33), placed fourth at the WIAA D1 state meet in the 800-meters, and fourth at the same meet in the 1,600-meters. The two-time team captain for cross country holds personal records of 1:01.06 in the 400-meters, 2:15.7 in the 800-meters, 4:57.33 in the 1,600-meters, and 18:45 in the cross-country five-kilometers.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Eva!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/FQNJ2ZRZqJ
Iris Rogel, Bonney Lake HS, Bonney Lake, Washington
Rogel comes to Bozeman from Bonney Lake High School in Bonney Lake, Washington, where she was a standout track athlete and soccer star. Rogel placed fifth at the WIAA 3A state meet in the 800-meters, was First Team All-League in the 800-meters, and was Honorable Mention All-League in the 1,600-meters on the way to being named Tacoma Athletic Commission Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year last season as a senior. The Evergreen State native also led her soccer team to three league championships as a two-time team captain and was both her class' valedictorian and student government president. Rogel holds personal records of 2:15.48 in the 800-meters, 5:04.66 in the 1,600 meters, and 12:17.52 in the 3,200 meters.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Iris!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/G0Y65AUtF1
Emma Tate, West Lafayette HS, Purdue, West Lafayette, Indiana
Tate comes to Montana State as a graduate transfer from Purdue, where she competed for the Boilermakers from 2019-2023. The Indiana native earned a top-50 finish at the 2022 NCAA Division I Great Lakes Region Cross Country Championships and placed 18th at the 2022 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 3,000-meters. In 2021, Tate was an NCAA Championships qualifier after finishing 25th and making the All-Region Team at the regional meet. Additionally, the distance runner was one of just two Purdue recipients of the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, and is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree. She has accepted a PhD position within the Land Resource and Environmental Science Department and received a fellowship through the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department to study extreme biofilms at Yellowstone National Park. Tate owns personal records of 4:46 in the 1,600-meters, 9:37 in the 3,000-meters, and cross country marks of 17:09 in the five-kilometers and 20:29 in the six-kilometers.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Emma!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/BM4vQrOcNB
Natalie Wood, Sweet Grass County HS, Big Timber, Montana
Wood joins the Bobcat program after a standout career at nearby Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber, Montana. Wood was a part of two state championship Sweet Grass County Sheep Herder title teams, and earned nine top-six event finishes over her final three outdoor track and field seasons. This past spring, Wood took home state titles in both the 1600 and 3200 while placing third in the 800. That dominant performance in the distance events followed up third place finishes in consecutive years in the 3200 and a runner-up result in the 1600 her junior season. Wood was a factor at the Class B state cross country meet all four years in high school, placing sixth her freshman year, second her sophomore year, third her junior year, and second her senior year, picking up All-State honors in all four seasons. The Treasure State native owns personal bests of 5:15.79 in the 1,600-meters, 11:27.47 in the 3,200-meters, and 19:14 in the cross country five-kilometer length race. Wood, a multi-recipient of Academic All-State honors, intends to major in Ag Communications.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 21, 2023
Welcome, Natalie!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/53O1cZoZnn
Eli Boppart, Mauston HS, La Valle, Wisconsin
Boppart comes to Bozeman from Mauston High School in La Valle, Wisconsin, where the accomplished distance runner placed fourth at the WIAA Division II Track and Field Championships in both the 1600 and 3200 last season after sweeping the distance races at the South Central Conference meet, placing first in the 800, 1600, and 3200. Boppart earned First Team All-Conference honors in cross country all four years in high school, and also broke his school's 50-year old 1600-meter record during his junior campaign. The Wisconsin native finished second at the state cross country meet in both his junior and senior seasons, earning First Team All-State honors. Boppart finished in the top ten in his class, was named a WIAA Scholar Athlete, and was a four-time WIAA Academic All-State pick.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 20, 2023
Welcome, Eli!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/JPaGZHrjse
Harvey Cramb, Mansfield State HS, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cramb joins Montana State this fall as an accomplished international competitor in the distance events, having won Australian U20 national championships in both the 1,500-meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Last year, Cramb took home gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase representing his home country of Australia at the Oceania Championships in a new championships record. The Aussie is a six-time state champion, a seven-time state medalist, and broke a 31-year old record with a finishing time of 3:52.15 in the 18/19 1500-meters at the state championships last year. The native of Brisbane holds personal records of 8:58.14 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 14:20 in the 5,000-meters, and 32:47 in the 10,000-meters.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 20, 2023
Welcome, Harvey! #GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/fzAXe1nDGo
Will Giesen, Bellingham HS, Bellingham, Washington
Geisen will run for the Bobcats after a decorated career at Bellingham High School in Bellingham, Washington. The distance runner picked up all-conference honors in cross country on three occasions and finished fifth at the state championships his junior year in cross country. Geisen also was named all-conference during his two track seasons, and was the Washington state champion in the 800-meters his junior year and the state runner-up the following year in the same event. The Evergreen State product graduated cum laude and was a community presence assisting local nonprofits like Lighthouse Mission Shelter and Opportunity Council. Geisen holds personal records of 1:54.04 in the 800-meters, 4:16 in the 1600-meters, and 15:40 in a five-kilometer cross country race.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 20, 2023
Welcome, Will!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/9KTVQZeisS
Mario Oblad, Mountainside HS, Beaverton, Oregon
Oblad comes to Bozeman from Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon, where he lettered in cross country four years and track and field for three years. Oblad excelled in the 800-meters for the Mavericks, where he placed fifth in the 6A state finals in the event after First Team All-Metro honors in the Metro League. Oblad has clocked a 50.87 in the 400-meters, 1:53.11 in the 800-meters, 4:18 in the 1,600-meters, and ran a 15:46 in a five-kilometer cross country race. The Oregon product plans to major in general engineering.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 20, 2023
Welcome, Mario!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/3PecOaxFk4
Michael Schumacher, Saint Viator HS, Vanderbilt, Deer Park, Illinois
Schumacher joins the Bobcats after one season at Vanderbilt, where he was named the Newcomer of the Year in cross country for the SEC-competing Commodores. As a freshman last season in Nashville, Schumacher finished first on the team and 48th overall in the eight-kilometer Coaching Tree Invitational (25:24.80) and first on the team and 66th overall in the eight-kilometer Joe Piane Invitational (26:00.50). Previously, at Saint Viator in Deer Park, Illinois, Schumacher cleaned up in distance events on both the course and on the track, collecting state runner-up honors his senior year in the 3,200-meters and sixth place in the 1,600 meters. Schumacher also placed sixth at the state cross country meet his senior year and third his junior season, and holds his school's record in the cross country three-mile (14:46). Schumacher has clocked an 8:21 in the indoor 3,000-meters and 31.57 in a cross country ten-kilometer race.
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— Montana State TF/XC (@MSUBobcatsTFXC) July 20, 2023
Welcome, Michael!#GoCatsGo pic.twitter.com/LOKyT9H1uZ
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
