Track & field returns to action next week

While most University of Montana students are still enjoying several more weeks of winter break, Montana track & field student-athletes are arriving back to Missoula this weekend and gearing up for the next step of their season. Most student-athletes will report back to campus by Monday, in preparation for the Grizzlies' meet in Bozeman at the end of the week, but a handful of student-athletes have already been working out, and will begin competition on Monday.

The Grizzlies are sending 10 athletes to the Montana State Dual (Monday-Tuesday), a multi-event-meet between the Grizzlies and Bobcats. Beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, the women will perform the pentathlon while the men will begin the heptathlon. The final three events of the men's heptathlon will take place Tuesday, beginning at 10 a.m.

"The muti is a good area for us," head coach Brian Schweyen said. "We have some athletes who are able to score some points for us, and it's developing into a strength for our team."

The multi-events were some of the Grizzlies' most successful in last month's Candy Cane meet in Cheney, Wash. Grant Whitcutt won the men's heptathlon with a score of 4,709. Competing against Central Washington and Eastern Washington, Montana also took third, fourth and fifth place, with Jordan Stow, Morgan Eitel and Noah Adams performing well.

Jansen Ziola won the indoor pentathlon (3,450 points). Also on the women's side, Montana finished third (Hannah Coburn), fourth (Jenna Dukovcic) and fifth (Jaree Mane), as well.

Those eight athletes will compete again this week, with Nathan Graves and Josh Riley also joining the fold.

Unlike many track & field events, where an athlete can put aside a good or poor performance and mentally move to his or her next event, with multi-events, the scores carry over.

"It can be tough on the mind and the body," Schweyen said. "You have to be consistent and stay focused throughout the entire competition."

Over the weekend, the Grizzlies will be back in Bozeman for the Montana State Invitational. The meet will include the 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 60-meter hurdles, the 4x400 relay, 4000-meters medley, high jump, long jump, shot put, triple jump and weight throw. The two-day event will begin on Friday with field events at 3:30 p.m. and running events starting at 5.

Scheduled to compete for the Griz are:

Men: Noah Adams (800 meters), Chase Armstrong (200 meters, 60-meter hurdles), Courtlynd Brown (60 meters, 200 meters), Charlie Bush (high jump, pole vault), Micah Drew (5000 meters), Brett Dringman (pole vault), Jonathan Eastwood (800 meters), Trevor Henry (800 meters, 4x400 relay), Colton Hess (200 meters, 400 meters, 4x400 relay), Jacob Lamb (800 meters), Dillon May (5000 meters), Kyle Peterson (5000 meters), Jacob Price (long jump, triple jump), Matt Quist (high jump), Ty Rather (200 meters, 400 meters), Sterling Reneau (60 meters, 4x400 relay), Josh Riley (4x400 relay), Parker Spadt (high jump), Nolan Staats (long jump), Rhett Streeter (60 meters, 200 meters) and Nathan Wellington (5000 meters).

Women: Jessica Bailey (5000 meters), Claire Bohnsack (triple jump), Jane Booth (high jump), Lee Camel (long jump), Madison Carr (5000 meters), Hannah Coburn (60-meter hurdles, long jump), Reagan Colyer (800 meters, 4000 meters medley), Abby Dodge (high jump), Samantha Engebretsen (5000 meters), Megan Franz (800 meters, 4000 meters medley), Keyera Gaulden (60 meters, 200 meters), Madeline Hamilton (4000 meters medley), Maeve Holman (5000 meters), Carrie Jacka (pole vault), Jaree Mane (200 meters, 4x400 relay), Mattison McAnally (200 meters, 400 meters), Mijah McLeod (400 meters, 4x400 relay), Madison Neufeld (triple jump), Carla Nicosia (triple jump), Chloe Seferos (pole vault), Carly Smiedala (400 meters, 4x400 relay, 4000 meters medley), Evie Tate (5000 meters), Alanna Vann (60 meters, 200 meters), Arielle Walden (triple jump), Madison Ward (800 meters, 4000 meters medley) and Jansen Ziola (60-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump).

Schweyen doesn't have specific expectations for his athletes, but rather will use the time in Bozeman as a barometer.

"We're going to take it one athlete and one event at a time and see how it unfolds," he said. "From there, we'll be able to assess where we're at and what we need to do moving forward."

The biggest test will be to see how the student-athletes report back, after being home and away from organized competition for several weeks.

"I don't leave a parting message with them; they know what they need to do to reach their goals," Schweyen said. "I think, for the most part, there will be a lot of athletes who come back still in good shape and ready to go."

University of Montana Athletics

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