Sprinters, hurdlers traveling to Boulder
4/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Indoor Track, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
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A portion of the University of Montana outdoor track and field team???s sprinters and hurdlers will travel to Boulder, Colo., this week for Saturday???s Colorado Invitational. The meet, which includes athletes from 16 schools, will be held at CU???s Potts Field.
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The remainder of Montana???s athletes will remain in Missoula for an intrasquad meet Friday afternoon at Dornblaser Field.
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Montana was originally scheduled to compete as a full team at the Montana State Open in Bozeman, Mont., Saturday, but the Bobcats canceled the meet in favor of competing at a pair of meets in Arizona.
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Running for the Grizzlies at Colorado will be seniors James Brown and Cody Henning, sophomore Jennifer Walter and freshmen Melissa Jenkins, Aaron Booth, Logan Hodke and Case Parker.
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Brown will be competing in the 100 and 200 meters, Henning in the 200 and 400 meters, Walter in the 100 and 200 meters, Jenkins in the 200 and 400 meters, Booth in the 100 and 200 meters, Hodke in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles and Parker in the 200 and 400 meters.
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Brown, Henning, Booth and Parker will also compete in the 4x100-meter relay.
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The meet???s running events start at 2 p.m. with the women???s steeplechase and conclude at 6:30 p.m. with the men???s 4x400-meter relay.
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Montana???s long-sprint and hurdles athletes had a successful season-opening performance last Saturday at the Al Manuel Invitational at Dornblaser Field. Jenkins (57.59) and junior Erin Clark (57.71) both had Big Sky Conference-qualifying performances in the 400 meters.
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On the men???s side, Parker ran a Big Sky-qualifying 48.66 in the 400 meters and junior Landon Bowery a Big Sky-qualifying 54.51 in the 400-meter hurdles.
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The Grizzlies did not have any qualifiers in the 100 and 200 meters and 100- and 110-meter hurdles.
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???I thought the quarter-milers had a really good opening meet Saturday,??? Montana hurdles and sprints coach Harry Clark said. ???Our sprinters and short-hurdlers will need a couple of weeks because we we???re just starting to get into our outdoor workouts. It???s hard to get track time when there is a lack of heat, so that???s why our short sprints suffered Saturday.
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???Given the situation of this weekend, it worked out well to send the athletes down to Colorado. The athletes are driving and staying at James Brown???s house, so it???s not like we???re spending a bunch of money. This is something the athletes really wanted to do.???
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Montana???s outdoor season will continue next week with the Montana Open on Saturday, April 18. The meet will also feature a multi-events competition Thursday and Friday. The men???s decathlon will start at noon each day, the women???s heptathlon at 12:15 p.m.
