Evans named Big Sky Athlete of the Week

The Montana State women's track and field team arrived at Dornblaser Field on Saturday riding a three-year winning streak in the programs' annual Griz-Cat Dual. Montana senior Sammy Evans did everything she could to ensure it didn't reach four.

Competing in her final dual between the two schools, Evans won the long and triple jumps, and provided encouragement to her teammates that could be heard from one end of Dornblaser to the other every minute in between, to lead Montana to a 102-98 victory.

"It really wasn't on my mind during the meet. I just figured if we all did what we were supposed to, we'd beat them," said Evans, who was named the Big Sky Conference Athlete of the Week for field events on Monday, the third time she's been honored by the league in her career.

"They were kind of announcing the score throughout the meet, but I couldn't quite tell where we were sitting. When they finally announced at the end that we had won, I was pumped."

Evans wasn't honored by the Big Sky because Montana defeated Montana State. She was recognized for her mark of 41-8 in the triple jump, which was a season best, her second meet in a row jumping farther than 41 feet and less than five inches shy of her school record.

She ranks first in the Big Sky and 23rd in the NCAA West Region. She'll advance to regionals next month at Austin, Texas, in the triple jump for the third time in her career.

"Honestly, I was disappointed it wasn't farther," said the tell-it-like-it-is Evans. "For just my third meet doing triple jump (this outdoor season), I'm doing better than I ever have at this point. I'm more consistent than I've ever been, but I'm still having timing issues way too close to conference.

"I need to remind myself I did well and to just relax. The jumps are going to come, but it's still frustrating. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I wanted."

Evans, who claimed the long jump on Saturday at 18-10.75, won her fourth Big Sky triple jump title in February at the indoor championships at Pocatello. She won her first long jump title last spring at the outdoor championships at Greeley. She was runner-up in the event at this year's indoor championships.

Evans has been nearly untouchable in the triple jump over the years, often winning the event at meets in measurements of feet, not inches, but she'll be challenged next month when the Big Sky outdoor championships are held at Sacramento.

Portland State's Ta'Mara Richey has gone 40-11.5 this spring, and four other athletes have surpassed 39 feet, giving the event a depth at the top it hasn't had since Evans has been at Montana.

"A lot of girls are jumping really well this year. It's getting more competitive, and that's good for the Big Sky as a whole. It establishes that we are not a throwaway conference," she said.

"I'm hoping, honestly, that triple jump isn't competitive if I get my act together, but long jump will be. And I think it brings out the best in me when it's close."

University of Montana Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Sammy Evans

Related Videos