SPOKANE, Washington – The Montana Tech Track & Field Teams competed at the Whitworth Twilight Meet yesterday against NCAA Division I and NAIA opponents.
"We certainly didn't get the weather or competition that we had when we went to Spokane last year but this was still a great meet for us to see some new competition and to focus on competing rather than marks," said head coach
Zach Kughn.
"Despite less than ideal conditions we still had a ton of personal bests and athletes placing high in events. We had a heck of a drive back weather wise but I think the performances we had made the meet worth it and now we have some time to recover over the holiday weekend and get focused for conference."
Jenna Jordan won the javelin throw by more than four meters with a toss of 42.51 meters.
"Jenna continues to amaze all of us. She is throwing further and further each week which is just so uncommon for the level she's at."
Naiya Beaudin won the triple jump with a mark of 10.98 meters.
Abbey Clark took second in the long jump with a leap of 5.13 meters.
Olleca Severson finished second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.80 and fourth in the 100m hurdles with a time of 16.02 seconds.
Natylia Jacobson took second in the 100m dash with a time of 12.42 seconds.
Emily Ratz finished second in the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.48 seconds.
Hailey Nielson just missed the national standard in the 5000m finishing in fifth place with a time of 17:53.35 seconds, more than 20 seconds better than her previous best.
"Hailey ran a fantastic race, bittersweet to be so close to the national standard but for her to run under 18 for 5k at this point in her career is ridiculous. I can't wait to see the rest of her season and I'm even more excited for the rest of her career."
Drake Schlacter won the men's long jump with a mark of 6.62m. Schlachter finished third in the men's 100m dash with a time of 11.42 seconds.
"Drake ended up winning the long jump over a University of Montana athlete on his final jump. It was great to see him come through clutch under pressure. He's done that before and that's the poise you need heading into championship season. He continues to look great on the track as well."
Caden Caywood took fourth in the 100m dash with a time of 11.66 seconds.
The Oredigger men's 4x100m relay team of Caywood,
Dom Maricelli,
Eli Byrd, and Schlachter took second with a time of 43.69 seconds.
Carlin Manning placed first in the 3000m steeple chase finishing with a time of 12:20.76.
Alisa Hashley took third with a time of 13:23.33.
"
Carlin Manning and
Alisa Hashley both exceeded their goals and they are now second and fourth on the conference list."
Justin Morgan took fourth in the men's 3000m steeple chase finishing with a time of 9:57.07.
"Due to the facility hosting the conference championship not having a steeplechase pit, the steeplechase is conducted at a regular season meet. Teams must declare that meet as their conference performance.
Justin Morgan and
River Sheppard posted the top two times in the conference. Assuming nobody else in the conference runs that's 18 big points for the men's team."
Becca Richtman did not run in Spokane and competed in the steeple chase at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California. Richtman narrowly lost her heat by 1/100
th of a second to a Southern Utah runner and her time of 10:17.30 held up to place fifth overall in the meet. An 18 second personal best for her, the top time in the NAIA this season by 20 seconds and she is now the second fastest NAIA athlete of all time in the steeple chase.
"Combined with Carlin and Alisa, that's 22 huge conference points for the women's team."
Richtman runs in the finals at the Mt. SAC Relays tonight.
The Frontier Conference Championships are up next for the teams on April 26-27.
