Montana State University
Bobcat Performance
Relays Steal Spotlight at Bobcat Performance Meet on Friday
2/9/2024 8:48:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
A school record from the women's 4x400 and a No. 2 mark all-time from the men's 4x400 cap an exciting day of competition at Worthington Arena
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Montana State track and field capped a fun night in Worthington Arena with an exciting pair of 4x400 meter relays, putting a bow on a full day of action at the Bobcat Performance meet on Friday.
Full results can be viewed here.
The women's 4x400 meter relay lived up to the hype, with the Cats breaking their own school record in a converted time of 3:40.85. The new best mark from the relay group of Peyton Garrison, Caroline Hawkes, Giulia Gandolfi, and Madison Smith eclipses the 3:42.45 the group ran at the Spokane Sports Showcase earlier this season and remains the best time in the conference this year. The mark also sets a new facility record at Worthington Arena, beating the time of 3:41.95 run by Northern Arizona in 2022.
The men's 4x400 meter relay, the final event of the penultimate meet of the regular season, was similarly exciting. With the entire arena roaring, the Bobcat team comprised of Stryder Todd-Fields, Michael Swan Jr., Tyler Gilman, and Jett Grundy crossed the line in a converted time of 3:13.11, the second-fastest time in school history and the second-fastest mark in the Big Sky this year.
"I think everybody approached this meet a little bit different—some people were working on specific things and some people were coming out to compete, and I think in that way it was a success for the team," throws coach Jen Allen said. "Though in the results it might look a little up and down, we came out with a different purpose for everybody, and everybody executed that purpose. The absolute coolest part about it was everything ending so that we could all support those 4x400 relays, and those by 4x400's absolutely sent it. That was so much fun to have them run that way and have the team support them."
Earlier, Elijah Jackman turned heads in the men's weight throw, recording marks of 61-02.25 and 61-04.25 before breaking through into Montana State's all-time top ten with a monster mark of 64-05.75 to win the event on his last attempt.
That throw currently ranks fifth in program history and third in the Big Sky this season.
"We've seen that stuff from Elijah in practice, but he gets so excited in a meet," Allen said. "So for him today to settle down and hit that throw in a competition so you know that it's there—that's what he did. He kept battling the whole way through and got it on his last throw. He's only a sophomore, but the confidence to call for a slow clap and get in there and hit that throw on his last throw—there's great stuff coming from Elijah."
Elsewhere, Colby Wilson competed solo at the Don Kirby Invite down in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday and tied for sixth in a highly competitive field of some of the top vaulters in the country. The senior from Olympia, Washington, cleared a season-best height of 17-09.25 (5.42m)--improving on what was already the best mark in the Big Sky this season and moving Wilson up to 16th in NCAA Division I this year.
While action was raging in Bozeman, Montana State's distance group was out west in Seattle, Washington, competing in the Husky Classic.
In the women's 3,000 meters, Kyla Christopher-Moody turned in a 9:31.58 to move up to No. 8 all-time in MSU history. The time is also the third-best in the Big Sky this year. Kendra Lusk remained at No. 9 in MSU history by improving her 3,000 meter time to 9:36.42. The time is the fourth-best in the Big Sky this year.
THE RUNDOWN (BOZEMAN)
- Competing unattached, Elena Carter won the women's long jump with a mark 19-09.50 in her first competition of the winter, a shade off her No. 3 all-time MSU jump of 19-11.50. Hailey Coey took second, finishing with a best mark of 19-02.75.
- Sydney Brewster continued her outstanding freshman season with a win in the women's weight throw (55-01.00), clearing a season-high. Brewster followed that up with a win in the women's shot put (49-06.25) and remains first in the Big Sky thanks to her throw of 50-08.25 at the Bobcat Challenge. Teammates Emma Brensdal and Carolyne Christoffersen rounded out the top three on Friday.
- In the women's pole vault, Montana State went 1-2-3, with Tatum Richards placing first with a vault of 12-08.00 (3.86m). Teammates Maisee Brown and Taylor Holmes followed right behind to round out the top-three.
- Kyle Yonker won the men's pole vault on a career-best mark of 16-01.25 (4.91m)--the new seventh-best mark in the Big Sky this year. Bob Hartley took second, clearing 15-09.25 (4.81m).
- The Bobcats were strongly represented in the women's 60 meter hurdles, as Elena Carter won the event while competing unattached in a time of 8.42, with Millie Hubbell (9.08) and Giulia Gandolfi (9.18) rounding out the MSU representation at the top
- It was an all-Montana State final in the women's 60 meters, as Jaeden Wolff took first with a converted time of 7.45, barely off her school record time of 7.43 and still the second-fastest 60 ever run by an MSU athlete. Wolff was followed by teammates Peyton Garrison, Nyla Lee, Madison Smith, and Jadyn VanDyken.
- Stryder Todd-Fields won the men's 200 meters, crossing the line in 22.16
- Taylor Brisendine easily won the women's triple jump, posting a mark of 39-06.50. The Kalispell native still sits second in the Big Sky thanks to her leap of 39-10.00 at the Bobcat Challenge on January 26. Jayden Smith, competing in her second collegiate triple jump, placed second with a mark of 36-08.50.
- The women's 800 meters were dominated by Cats, as Annie Kaul (1st, 2:14.17), Jada Zorn (2nd, 2:14.24), Kalei Moravitz (3rd, 2:17.28), and Carly Ryan (4th, 2:19.84) outpaced the field
- Leigha Carter and Alyssa Boshart went 1-2 in the women's 200
- Big Timber native Natalie Wood won the women's mile
THE RUNDOWN (SEATTLE)
- Ben Perrin was the Bobcats' top finisher in the men's 5,000 meters, crossing the line in 13:55.77 to place 13th in a crowded field of some of the top runners in the nation. Matthew Richtman placed 22nd with a time of 14:07.36.
- In the men's 3,000 meters, Rob McManus took 26th (8:06.39) while Sam Ells placed 29th (8:06.94) and Harvey Cramb finished 33rd (8:07.33).
UP NEXT
Montana State will host their final meet of the regular season next Friday, February 16, back at Worthington Arena. Action in the Big Sky Tuner is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
The Big Sky Tuner will be the final meet before the following week's Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships in Spokane on February 22-24.
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