Whitcutt makes noise during Day 1 of decathlon
4/18/2018 10:28:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
AZUSA, Calif. – Members of the Montana track & field program are in California this week, and while the majority of athletes don't begin competition until Friday, a select few got their starts on Wednesday.
Sophomore Grant Whitcutt showed promise during the first five events of the decathlon. His day was highlighted by strong performances in the shot put and high jump, placing in the top quarter of his group in both events.
"Track and field is a sport that requires so much energy, particularly the multis," head coach Brian Schweyen said. "It's an event that is physically exhausting, and even more so mentally exhausting. Every event matters and every rep matters."
After a 12.19 in the 100 meters (12th), Whitcutt rebounded by improving on all three attempts in the long jump, finishing with a mark of 20-10 (ninth). He then finished third out of 14 participants in his group in the high jump (6-4.75) and fourth out of 16 in the shot put (36-3). Both were season bests (career best for the shot put), increasing by 5.25 inches and 10.5 feet, respectively, from just last week.
"I was really pleased to see how he took the next step after the 100 and built on each event throughout the day," Schweyen said.
Whitcutt currently sits in ninth out of 14 athletes in his group, totaling 3,225 points on Day 1. A total of 56 athletes across four groups are participating in the decathlon. Sophomore teammate Josh Riley ran the 100 meters (11.94) but did not compete in the next four events due to hamstring discomfort. Riley could have continued but was pulled for precautionary reasons.
Senior Erika McLeod, the 2016 Big Sky champion in the heptathlon and a four-time conference champion throughout her career, is redshirting this spring and preparing for a big final season in 2019.
While she is currently unable to compete for the Grizzlies, the season is far from lost. Like any competitor, McLeod continues to hone her craft and make improvements, and is able to compete in California this week unattached.
As an unattached athlete, McLeod paid her own way to the meet, cannot wear Montana gear or earn points for the Grizzlies.
"She's not directly helping our team right now, but she's continuing to make improvements, which will pay off in the long run," Schweyen said. "Erika is an incredible athlete and we're excited to see what she's able to do for us next year."
Last week, McLeod (again unattached) unofficially made her outdoor season debut by winning the women's decathlon at the Montana Open. Of the seven events, she won four and finished second in the other three.
Competing in the first four events of the heptathlon on Wednesday at the Bryan Clay Invitational, McLeod held her own against a competitive field. She ran a 14.76 in the 100-meter hurdles, reached 5-6.5 in the high jump, threw the shot put 35-2.5 feet and ran the 200 meters in 25.59 seconds. The high-jump height would have been a career best, if she was competing attached, while her 100-meter hurdles time was seven-hundredths of a second off her PR.
The decathlon and heptathlon will conclude on Thursday, along with the steeplechase and 5,000 meters. Dillon May will represent Montana in the steeplechase, while Samantha Engebretsen will run in the women's 5,000 meters.
Sophomore Grant Whitcutt showed promise during the first five events of the decathlon. His day was highlighted by strong performances in the shot put and high jump, placing in the top quarter of his group in both events.
"Track and field is a sport that requires so much energy, particularly the multis," head coach Brian Schweyen said. "It's an event that is physically exhausting, and even more so mentally exhausting. Every event matters and every rep matters."
After a 12.19 in the 100 meters (12th), Whitcutt rebounded by improving on all three attempts in the long jump, finishing with a mark of 20-10 (ninth). He then finished third out of 14 participants in his group in the high jump (6-4.75) and fourth out of 16 in the shot put (36-3). Both were season bests (career best for the shot put), increasing by 5.25 inches and 10.5 feet, respectively, from just last week.
"I was really pleased to see how he took the next step after the 100 and built on each event throughout the day," Schweyen said.
Whitcutt currently sits in ninth out of 14 athletes in his group, totaling 3,225 points on Day 1. A total of 56 athletes across four groups are participating in the decathlon. Sophomore teammate Josh Riley ran the 100 meters (11.94) but did not compete in the next four events due to hamstring discomfort. Riley could have continued but was pulled for precautionary reasons.
Senior Erika McLeod, the 2016 Big Sky champion in the heptathlon and a four-time conference champion throughout her career, is redshirting this spring and preparing for a big final season in 2019.
While she is currently unable to compete for the Grizzlies, the season is far from lost. Like any competitor, McLeod continues to hone her craft and make improvements, and is able to compete in California this week unattached.
As an unattached athlete, McLeod paid her own way to the meet, cannot wear Montana gear or earn points for the Grizzlies.
"She's not directly helping our team right now, but she's continuing to make improvements, which will pay off in the long run," Schweyen said. "Erika is an incredible athlete and we're excited to see what she's able to do for us next year."
Last week, McLeod (again unattached) unofficially made her outdoor season debut by winning the women's decathlon at the Montana Open. Of the seven events, she won four and finished second in the other three.
Competing in the first four events of the heptathlon on Wednesday at the Bryan Clay Invitational, McLeod held her own against a competitive field. She ran a 14.76 in the 100-meter hurdles, reached 5-6.5 in the high jump, threw the shot put 35-2.5 feet and ran the 200 meters in 25.59 seconds. The high-jump height would have been a career best, if she was competing attached, while her 100-meter hurdles time was seven-hundredths of a second off her PR.
The decathlon and heptathlon will conclude on Thursday, along with the steeplechase and 5,000 meters. Dillon May will represent Montana in the steeplechase, while Samantha Engebretsen will run in the women's 5,000 meters.
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