Feilzer stays on top, wins weight-throw title

Photo by: Dean Hendrickson

2/22/2019 10:21:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

By: Montana Sports Information

BOZEMAN, Mont. – One of the biggest certainties heading into this week's Big Sky Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships was that Montana's Hana Feilzer would finish her indoor career as a conference champion in the weight room.

But sometimes the pressure of a near-certainty can be the biggest obstacle.

Not for Feilzer. The senior won the event Friday afternoon with the second-best throw of her career (63-5.5).

"You come in as the favorite, and it's your only event, that's tough," head coach Brian Schweyen said of Feilzer. "She had two big throws out there and proved why she's been the favorite all year."

Feilzer has done it all this winter, setting a school record in the event and twice being named the Big Sky's athlete of the week. In seven meets, she placed first six times. Make it seven for eight now.

"When you're at the top, everyone's looking to take you down," Schweyen said. "What are you shooting for? You have to find something that motivates you, and she did that. Kudos to her for being so mentally tough."

Sacramento State's Morgan Jones did pressure Feilzer, throwing a career-best 60-4, but Feilzer's title was never in serious danger. Her first throw went 61-5 feet, better than every other opponent. Her second was even better, reaching the top mark of 63-5.5.

Feilzer, a Missoula native, had previously scored twice in the weight throw, before redshirting in 2018. At her most-recent Championships, the 2017 outdoor meet, she won the hammer throw, and will look to defend that title this spring.

Feilzer was one of six scorers on the day for Montana, in addition to a handful of Grizzlies who advanced to tomorrow's running finals.

Matt Quist, who had previously scored at all three indoor championships, had one of the best performances of his career in the high jump, jumping 6-11 (season best) and reaching the podium with a third-place finish.

"Matt has always been a good jumper for us," Schweyen said of Quist. "He's been battling some injuries and hasn't been able to jump a ton, so for him to come out today and do what he did was good to see."

Also on the men's side, Montana received multiple point scorers in the heptathlon and shot put. Carrying over from Thursday, Aidan Diggs (4,931) and Josh Riley (PR 4,928) both moved up several positions to finish fifth and sixth, respectively, in the heptathlon. Montana was one of two schools to have multiple scorers in the shot put, with Brent Yeakey (55-10.25) and Noah Ramirez (54-1.75) both PRing.

"That's not an easy task, being in the biggest meet of your career," Schweyen said of Ramirez's three-foot PR. "You're not going to see many bigger PRs in this meet, so that was fantastic. Brent has been struggling a little bit coming in, so for him to PR as well, that was fun to see and will give him confidence going into outdoors."

Equally important was Montana's performances in several of the preliminary races. The Grizzlies had 10 athletes advance to tomorrow's finals, perhaps none bigger than the women's 60-meter hurdles. Of the eight qualifiers, four of them come from Montana, giving the Grizzlies a great opportunity to rack up points. Olivia Ellis (8.61), Morgan Sulser (8.62), Jansen Ziola (8.63) and Erika McLeod (8.78) all advanced.

"We knew we could be pretty good (in the 60-meter hurdles) and it's all come together," Schweyen said. "Those girls have been really competitive and are doing everything they possibly can do to help us out."

Ellis had a strong day overall, running in three preliminary races and advancing in all three. She will also run Saturday in the 60 meters (7.58) and 200 meters (25.14).

Others advancing on Friday were Madeline Hamilton (2:12.52) and Carly Smiedala (2:13.66) in the women's 800 meters, Callum Macnab (22.24) in the men's 200 meters, and McLeod in the women's 200 meters (24.80). Hamilton had the fastest 800 meters time of the day, and the best race of her sophomore season.

Montana narrowly missed additional points, with Aidan Diggs (8.36) and Callum Macnab (8.38) finishing nine and 10^th, respectively in the 60-meter hurdles; Paul Johnstone finished 10^th in the men's 400 meters (49.96); Megan Franz placed 10^th in the women's 800 meters (2:15.66); Kahsiah Benson finished ninth in the women's pole vault (11-10.75); Noah Adams placed ninth in the men's 800 meters (1:55.89); Jordan Stow finished ninth in the men's long jump (22-9.75). Montana also was expected to score in the women's long jump, but didn't have a jumper in the top 11.

Entering Saturday's final day, the women are in fourth place with 28 points, trailing only Idaho State (40), Eastern Washington (34) and Sacramento State (34). Northern Arizona (57.5) is the runaway leader on the men's side, but Montana is in the upper-half, with 17 points (fifth). Action begins Saturday at 10::30 a.m.

"Outlook is good," Schweyen said. "We have a lot of kids moving into the finals tomorrow, which gives us a shot. I think we're sitting in a good position to do spectacular things, and that's what we've been shooting for the past two years. Now we have to go get it done."