GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Montana Tech Women's Track & Field Team won their first Frontier Conference Championship in their first year as a program Wednesday. The Orediggers scored 226 points besting last year's champion Carroll College who finished with 203.

"We knew our women had a good chance to win on paper, but we had to get it done on the day. And man did they really come through. All over, all four event groups. How well rounded we are, especially for such a small and young program and staff," said head coach Zach Kughn.

"Nobody didn't show up. 226 points with 15 athletes competing, and every single athlete scored. That's incredible, I'm just so proud of this group for setting a high bar for themselves, being so competitive, but keeping such high energy and having fun with everything. We just do things a little differently here, we are having more fun than anyone out there. For our women, it's paid off right away. For our men, we still have a lot to hang our hat on this season and thinking of the future is super exciting for all involved."

The Oredigger women won 12 events and finished in the top two or three spots in four events. Tech started the meet with 46 points from the 3000 meter steeple chase and the heptathlon which scored prior to the meet.

Abby Clark, Olleca Severson, and Naiya Beaudin finished 1-2-3 in the heptathlon at the Trudnowski Open held in Helena last week.

Senior Becca Richtman was named Track Athlete of the Meet scoring 40 points for the Orediggers. Richtman was first in the 3000 meter steeple chase coming into the championship and won the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter races. She finished second in the 800 meter which she hasn't ran in a number of years.

"On the distance side, obviously Becca got the job done and she was so happy to get this team title, she means so much to this program and that title means so much to her."

Clark was named the Field Athlete of the Meet. In addition to the heptathlon, Clark won the 100 meter hurdles, the high jump, and finished second in the long jump.

Natylia Jacobson finished first in the 100 meter dash and took second in the 200 combining for 18 points.

Naiya Beaudin took first in both the long and triple jump. Beaudin also finished second in the 100 meter hurdles along with her third place finish in the heptathlon. Beaudin finished with 40.5 points.
The women also won the 4x100 relay with Beaudin, Emily Ratz, Severson, and Jacobson.

Ratz finished second in the 400 meter.

Tristan Sedgwick hit the NAIA B Standard and won the discus with a throw of 43.09 meters.  

"Another big-time moment for me was seeing Tristen launch a national qualifier in the discus. She put together the series of her life and ended up winning the conference title in one of the conference's best events. She was ranked fifth and three girls ahead of her already had a national standard. She turned some heads for sure but we knew she was ready for this and those 10 points came at a very crucial time for us. I'm super excited for her."

The Oredigger men finished with 104 points and in fourth place and were one point behind Providence who finished in third with 103. Carroll College won the meet and repeated as conference champions with 250 points.
Drake Schlachter won the 100 meter dash and finished third in the 200 meter.

"Too many highlights to count but I think one of my favorites was Drake winning the 100. That's a marquee event, everyone's watching the 100. Natylia got her 100m crown and then seeing Drake charge down that home stretch despite coming in ranked 2nd was just electric."

"Women's 4x1 won, then Natylia and Drake swept the "fastest man/woman in the conference" titles, so it was a good day for short sprints."

"Our men's 4x1 was having a heck of a race too until Tucker had some hamstring problems. That was truly the only real bummer of the day, as our 4x1 dropped to 4th and then Tucker had to scratch out of the open 400 I know he was ready for."

Justin Morgan had the fastest time in the 3,000 meter steeple chase going into the meet. He finished third in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter.

"Justin really had an incredible week. Prior the championship he won the steeplechase, then Tuesday he was 3rd in his debut 10k and followed it up with another all-conference showing in the 5k. The two Rocky runners ahead of him are many time national qualifiers, for him to come snag third in both events as a freshman was huge."

Ian Barville took third in the 800 meter.

Cody Burk finished second in the shot put with a toss of 12.98 meters.

Top three finishes earn the athletes all-conference accolades.

The Orediggers have one last meet to make it to the NAIA National Championships. Tech competes at the Tom Gage Classic in Missoula next weekend.