BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana Tech Oredigger Track & Field teams competed in their first indoor meet of the season at the Bobcat Challenge. The meet hosted by Montana State featured schools from Montana from NCAA Division I, II, and NAIA levels. 
 
The Orediggers had several highlights as the Tech team is competing for the first time in more than just the distance events as they did last year. Most of the Tech team is competing for the first time as true freshman.
 
"Today was yet another historic day for our program. Having the full Track & Field team out there competing was the most exciting thing we've done here since starting up Cross Country and Track & Field 18 months ago," said Head Coach Zach Kughn.

"Not only were we out there competing but we were competing well, and in all four event groups. Our program certainly made an impact on the meet and the state knows Montana Tech is taking this sport seriously."
 
Natylia Jacobson had a good day competing in multiple events. Jacobson finished second in the 60m dash in 7.80 seconds and second in the 200m with a time of 26.42 seconds. Her time in the 60m altitude adjusted to 7.82 and qualifies her for the NAIA national meet.
 
Hailey Nielson, a freshman from Butte, won the 3000m race with a time of 10:53.92, that mark with flat track and altitude adjustment goes down to 10:32.56, just 3.05 seconds off of the NAIA national standard. 
 
The Oredigger women also won the 4X400m relay with a time of 4:25.4. Running for the Orediggers was Emily Ratz, Abby Clark, Carlin Manning, and Hailey Nielson.
 
Abby Clark also finished fourth in the high jump reaching 1.54 meters after placing 6th in the pentathlon the day before.
 
Freshman Drake Schlachter took home the victory for the Orediggers in the long jump. The Penn Valley, California native jumped 21'11.5". Schlachter also followed that up with a second place finish in the 60m dash with a time of 7.14. 
 
Caden Caywood finished third in the 200m race in a time of 23.88.
 
Justin Morgan took fourth place in the 3000m with a time of 9:25.56. River Sheppard finished in sixth place with a time of 9:35.94.
 
The Oredigger men took second in the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:40.55. The team consisted of Caden Caywood, Ian Barville, Jon Hansen, and Tucker Christiansen.
 
The Oredigger Track & Field teams are off this weekend but compete at the Stacy Dragila Invitational hosted by Idaho State on January 29th.