Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Eitel shines in first decathlon
4/13/2018 7:36:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
MISSOULA, Mont. – The 2018 Montana Open kicked off on Thursday and Friday with the meet's multi-events, including the women's heptathlon and men's decathlon. The majority of the meet will be held Saturday at Dornblaser Field (free admission). A complete meet schedule can be found here.
On the men's side, sophomore Morgan Eitel stood out to head coach Brian Schweyen. The Belgrade, Mont., native was the Grizzlies' top men's performer, finishing second overall.
"I thought Morgan was really impressive," Schweyen said. "For his first time competing in the decathlon, I really liked what he showed, especially in the 1,500. I think he has some potential moving forward."
Eitel has competed in five indoor heptathlons in his collegiate career, but had never finished a decathlon. In his only prior attempt, during last year's Montana Open, he was unable to finish.
Eitel scored 5,881 points, and was able to earn the majority of those points late. He finished in the bottom half of the first four events but turned it on in the second half, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles, third in the discus, third in the javelin and first in the 1,500 meters.
He had personal bests in the 100 meters, high jump, 400 meters, 110-meter hurdles, javelin and 1,500 meters.
Josh Riley had a strong meet, but his score was docked when he was unable to finish two of the events (400 meters and 1,500 meters). Riley had the meet's fastest 110-meter hurdles time (16.04) and the second-best marks in the 100 meters, long jump, high jump and javelin. Grant Whitcutt was also hurt by not scoring in four events, but did have personal bests in the 100 meters and long jump. Riley had career bests in the 100 meters, discus and pole vault.
"That whole group is full of hard workers," Schweyen said. "They've been putting in a lot of work, so I was glad to see them be able to get out there and put it into play a little bit."
Freshman Jansen Ziola finished first out of the eight athletes who were competing for their schools in the women's heptathlon, totaling 4,460 points. Teammates Jaree Mane (third; 4,122) and Hannah Coburn (fourth; 3,945 points) were just behind Ziola.
Ziola started off the meet strong on Thursday by winning the first two events. She finished the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.64 and reached 5-1.75 in the high jump. Ziola also won the long jump (17-8.75) and 800 meters (2:28.64), and finished second in the 200 meters (26.24).
Like Ziola, Mane was also competing in all of the events for the first time in her outdoor collegiate career. The freshman won the 200 meters (26.04) and finished second in the shot put (32-5.5), javelin (98-5), and 800 meters (2:37.24). Coburn tied a career high in the high jump (5-0.5), finishing fourth.
Montana's Erika McLeod, who is redshirting this spring and competed unattached, unofficially won the event with a score of 4,864.
The Grizzlies weren't initially scheduled to compete in the multi-events, but Schweyen added the events late, knowing his team needed to get some work in. It will be the only time this season that Montana will compete in the decathlon and heptathlon until the Big Sky Championships in mid-May.
"It was essential for us to get out there and allow our athletes to get a feel for the events," he said. "We saw some good things, and more so, they got a feeling for it all so they're more comfortable at conference."
On the men's side, sophomore Morgan Eitel stood out to head coach Brian Schweyen. The Belgrade, Mont., native was the Grizzlies' top men's performer, finishing second overall.
"I thought Morgan was really impressive," Schweyen said. "For his first time competing in the decathlon, I really liked what he showed, especially in the 1,500. I think he has some potential moving forward."
Eitel has competed in five indoor heptathlons in his collegiate career, but had never finished a decathlon. In his only prior attempt, during last year's Montana Open, he was unable to finish.
Eitel scored 5,881 points, and was able to earn the majority of those points late. He finished in the bottom half of the first four events but turned it on in the second half, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles, third in the discus, third in the javelin and first in the 1,500 meters.
He had personal bests in the 100 meters, high jump, 400 meters, 110-meter hurdles, javelin and 1,500 meters.
Josh Riley had a strong meet, but his score was docked when he was unable to finish two of the events (400 meters and 1,500 meters). Riley had the meet's fastest 110-meter hurdles time (16.04) and the second-best marks in the 100 meters, long jump, high jump and javelin. Grant Whitcutt was also hurt by not scoring in four events, but did have personal bests in the 100 meters and long jump. Riley had career bests in the 100 meters, discus and pole vault.
"That whole group is full of hard workers," Schweyen said. "They've been putting in a lot of work, so I was glad to see them be able to get out there and put it into play a little bit."
Freshman Jansen Ziola finished first out of the eight athletes who were competing for their schools in the women's heptathlon, totaling 4,460 points. Teammates Jaree Mane (third; 4,122) and Hannah Coburn (fourth; 3,945 points) were just behind Ziola.
Ziola started off the meet strong on Thursday by winning the first two events. She finished the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.64 and reached 5-1.75 in the high jump. Ziola also won the long jump (17-8.75) and 800 meters (2:28.64), and finished second in the 200 meters (26.24).
Like Ziola, Mane was also competing in all of the events for the first time in her outdoor collegiate career. The freshman won the 200 meters (26.04) and finished second in the shot put (32-5.5), javelin (98-5), and 800 meters (2:37.24). Coburn tied a career high in the high jump (5-0.5), finishing fourth.
Montana's Erika McLeod, who is redshirting this spring and competed unattached, unofficially won the event with a score of 4,864.
The Grizzlies weren't initially scheduled to compete in the multi-events, but Schweyen added the events late, knowing his team needed to get some work in. It will be the only time this season that Montana will compete in the decathlon and heptathlon until the Big Sky Championships in mid-May.
"It was essential for us to get out there and allow our athletes to get a feel for the events," he said. "We saw some good things, and more so, they got a feeling for it all so they're more comfortable at conference."
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