GoGriz.com
The Montana women’s track and field team had eight individual event winners, the men’s team added three, as the Grizzlies competed as a full squad for the first time this winter on Friday at the Montana State Invitational at Bozeman.
The women’s wins came across the board, with four on the track, two in the jumps and two in the throws. They claimed eight of the 12 individual events at a meet that included athletes from Montana, Montana State, MSU Billings, Carroll and Rocky Mountain.
The men’s victories all came on the track.
“We had a pretty solid meet, especially with everyone just coming back from break this week,” said UM coach Brian Schweyen. “This is a good place to start as we move forward.”
Alanna Vann raced to a win in the 60 meters, matching her career-best time of 7.77, and Olivia Ellis won the 200 meters in a career-best time of 26.08.
Emily Cheroske won the 800 meters in a converted time of 2:16.49 to lead a top-five sweep for the Grizzlies. The top four times were all faster than 2:18. She was followed by Megan Franz (2:17.37), Reagan Colyer (2:17.54), Rosa Hardarson (2:17.71) and Emily Pittis (2:21.41).
The evening’s most impressive performance may have come from Jessica Bailey, who won the 5,000 meters in a converted time of 17:13.18. Bailey’s PR in the event had been 17:36.64.
“Emily had a fantastic opening meet in the 800, and Jessica had a great race in the 5,000, especially for an opener,” said Schweyen.
Sammy Evans won the long jump at 18-6, Arielle Walden won the triple jump at 37-4, less than six inches off her PR.
In the throwing events, Allie Keleti exploded for a win in the shot put. Her mark of 44-2.75 was a PR by nearly 10 inches and a foot and a half better than anyone else in the field.
“Allie had a really good meet,” said Schweyen. “It was nice to see her come out and hit that. She has been working hard for a few years, so it was well deserved.”
Hana Feilzer, who set a school record in December at Eastern Washington’s Candy Cane Invitational with a throw of 60-3, won the weight throw at 55-2.
Callum Macnab picked up two of the three victories for the men’s team, winning both the 60-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 8.55 and the 200 in a time of 22.36.
“Callum had a very solid hurdles time and ran a nice 200 as well,” said Schweyen.
The men’s other event winner was Jordon Wallin, a transfer from USC. He won the 800 meters in a converted time of 1:55.32.
Erika McLeod finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.19) and long jump (18-3.75), Jane Booth was second in the high jump (5-5), and Montana came in second in both the 4×400-meter and distance medley relays.
Alex Mustard raced to second-place finishes in both the 60 (7.03) and 200 meters (22.76), and Chase Armstrong was second behind Macnab in the 60-meter hurdles (8.64).
Competing for the third time in five days, Josh Riley finished second in the high jump at 6-6.75 behind Montana State’s Noah Martin, who cleared 6-8.75. Both athletes competed on Monday and Tuesday in the heptathlon at Montana State, with Martin finishing first, Riley fourth.
In the men’s throws, Nick Jackson came in second in the shot put at 52-10.75, a two-foot improvement on his opening performance in early December at Cheney, Wash.
Montana will return to Bozeman this Friday for a dual-scored meet with Montana State, Idaho State and Utah State.