Griz get another chance Friday at Montana State

Jan. 22, 2015

2015 Performance List 

Seven days after opening the 2015 indoor season with a tepid performance at Montana State, the Montana track and field teams will have a chance to make things right when the Grizzlies make a return trip to MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Montana, Montana State and Idaho State will go head-to-head Friday evening at the MSU Double Duals. The meet begins at 4 p.m.

At last Friday's Montana State Open, the Grizzlies failed to match the Bobcats' competitiveness and energy, and the results reflected it. In the meet's 28 events, Montana athletes and relay teams defeated Montana State's top performer just five times.

The pole vault provided a microcosm of the evening. After a good warmup, all four women's jumpers no-heighted. In the men's competition redshirt freshman Pierce Frazier broke out with a height of 15-9, but the Grizzlies also had two more no-heights.

Frazier had the only new Big Sky Conference-qualifying mark of the meet for Montana. In a nutshell, there were some nice performances, but they were overshadowed by the struggles.

"It wasn't for lack of trying," said junior Sammy Evans, who won the long jump and placed second in the triple jump. "What was frustrating was that people were trying, but things weren't clicking. And that's really frustrating. You're going out there and trying hard, but it's not happening for whatever reason.

"I think we're ready to go this week. It's been totally different at practice. People's mindsets have changed. I think everyone is in a lot more competitive mindset."

A number of Friday's highlights came in the throws, which are being coached by head coach Brian Schweyen for the first time.

Redshirt junior Anna Pershouse and redshirt senior Caitlin Caraway gave Montana a first- and second-place finish in the weight throw, and sophomore Nolan Nagle added more than four feet to his PR in the men's weight.

In the shot put, junior Stephanie Wells placed third with a PR. In the men's shot, junior Tyler Van Oort placed second with his own PR.

Redshirt senior Keli Dennehy and sophomore Reagan Colyer finished second and third in the mile, sophomore Dominique Bobo gave the men's team its only event victory when he claimed the 200 meters, and freshman Charlie Bush broke 15 feet in the pole vault and six feet in the high jump.

"I would hope they learned we need to be way more prepared mentally and be way more competitive mentally," said Schweyen.

"I think we went in not ready to compete and did not treat it like something that was important. The idea of being up, being ready to go and being excited for the competition wasn't there. That has to be there, and I think we'll see more of that Friday."

Montana will travel to Pocatello, Idaho, for its next meet Jan. 30-31, then return to Bozeman three straight Fridays leading up to the Big Sky Conference indoor championships, which will be held Feb. 26-28 at Flagstaff, Ariz.