Thursday, May 23
Sacramento, Calif.
Montana
at
NCAA West Regional
Photo by: Derek Johnson
3 years in the making, Lillquist is on the verge of 1st trip to nationals
5/22/2019 12:11:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For three years, senior Jensen Lillquist has been building motivation. Now, entering the final weeks of his collegiate track career, the Montana javelin thrower is ready to unleash it. Lillquist is one of six Montana athletes in Sacramento this week for the NCAA West Regional, and one of two Grizzlies in strong position to qualify for nationals.
If so, it would be an accomplishment several years in the making, and would cap a tremendous collegiate career in remarkable fashion.
The career accolades are more than the Ellensburg, Wash., native could have ever imagined when he came to Missoula as an 18-year-old. He's a four-time All-Big Sky performer in the javelin, winning a pair of conference titles. He's the first male athlete in Brian Schweyen's 11-year coaching career to qualify for NCAA Regionals four times. He's earned academic letters every semester of his career, is a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection and completed his master's degree in English literature after earning his undergraduate degree in three years.
It won't take away anything the thrower has already accomplished if he doesn't achieve it, but there's one last thing Lillquist would like to check off his collegiate bucket list: qualify for nationals.
Judging by his recent performances and where he's currently at, Lillquist has a strong chance to do so. He'll be competing against 47 other javelin throwers this week, with the top 12 advancing to next month's NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. Lillquist is currently seeded 12th.
Even more encouraging, in his three previous trips to regionals, Lillquist has finished above his seeded position all three times.
"He's prepared," Schweyen said. "I think he's very calm and I think he's confident. He knows what he has to do, and I think he's ready to go do it."
To finally break through would be something that is years in the making. In 2015, as a freshman, Lillquist got his feet wet with a 39th-place finish at regionals. Then things got serious.
In 2016, he placed 14th, just 4 feet away from a trip to nationals. Through two flights, the then-sophomore was in second place, but strong throws from his competitors in the final flight bumped him out or range. Lillquist redshirted in 2017 with an injured back, but that only gave him more time to prepare for regionals again. Two weeks after he won his second Big Sky Conference title in the javelin, Lillquist again had a strong performance at regionals, but – again – narrowly missed the cut.
Lillquist finished 14th again in 2018, just 2 feet away from advancing. Making the miss even more painful, if he would have been competing in the NCAA East Region – made up of the top 48 throwers from that side of the country – he would have finished fifth, easily making the cut.
"The last couple times have been really tough, honestly," Lillquist said. "I've been on the verge twice, and whether it was unlucky or me not having my best throws, I haven't gotten it done. That's been my motivation."
Lillquist enters his final shot in a good position. In his most-recent meet – the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago – he threw a lifetime-best 232-6. That mark would have earned him All-America honors at last year's NCAA Championships.
But regionals is a different dynamic than a typical meet. With each thrower getting just three attempts, there's little room for error.
"There's definitely more pressure," Lillquist acknowledged. "It's a completely different atmosphere because there are so many people here. At the end of the day, though, you're still trying to perfect your technique and throw as far as you can."
Lillquist is coming off of a career-best performance and has been in this spot before. He not only is competing at regionals for the fourth time, but he has also competed at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium multiple times, including last year's regionals.
"The Big Sky Championships gave me a lot of confidence moving forward," Lillquist said. "Essentially, I'm just trying to repeat those throws and hopefully have another big one. This week is all about the one big throw and getting to nationals."
Lillquist isn't the only top competitor for the Griz. Hana Feilzer, who holds two school records and is a two-time Big Sky champion in the hammer throw, will be competing at regionals for the third time. She is currently seeded 10th and also has a strong opportunity to advance to next month's NCAA Championships.
Feilzer placed 21st in 2017, as a junior, before redshirting in 2018. Her season-best throw of 209-10 ranks 23rd in the entire country.
"I don't think there's any pressure on Hana," Schweyen said. "I think she knows she's 100 percent capable of doing this, and she can now go out and show it. She's been building for this moment for two years now, and she's ready."
Also competing for Montana is Jane Booth (high jump), Olivia Ellis (400-meter hurdles), Maryn Lowry (1,500 meters) and Brent Yeakey (shot put). Booth has participated at regionals twice before, while the others will be competing for the first time.
"We have two athletes who absolutely have a legitimate shot to move on to the next level," Schweyen said of Feilzer and Lillquist. "But even some of the athletes who aren't necessarily expected to move on can do big things. Jane has been here before and is capable of jumping a height that can get to nationals. To get here is a well-deserved honor for all six of our athletes, and you never know what will happen or how a meet will unfold."
Below is a look at each athlete and when he or she will compete:
What to know about the NCAA West Regional:
When: Thursday-Saturday (click here for a complete schedule)
Who: The top 48 West Regional athletes in each event. There is also an East Region that selects the top 48 athletes from that side of the country.
Where: Hornet Stadium, on the campus of Sacramento State University
How to follow: Live results can be tracked online. Additionally, fans can purchase a subscription to FloTrack Pro to watch a live broadcast.
Fun fact: In 11 seasons under Brian Schweyen, the Grizzlies have qualified 86 athletes to NCAA Regionals. Montana will look to send its first athlete to nationals since Stephanie Wells in 2015 (javelin).
Jane Booth / Redshirt Junior / Corvallis, Mont.
Event: High Jump
When: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2017 (30th); 2018 (34th)
Season Best: 5-8.5
Career Best: 5-9.25
NCAA West Region Rank: 44th
Current Height Needed to Finish Top 12: 5-10.75
Notes: Booth has been in this position before, qualifying for regionals in each of her first two seasons, as well. She placed 30th in 2017 and 34th in 2018, but this spring is going into the meet with momentum. Booth is coming off of a season-best performance in the high jump, placing third at the Big Sky Championships.
Olivia Ellis / Redshirt Junior / Spokane, Wash.
Event: 400-Meter Hurdles
When: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 1:00.20
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 46th
Current Time Needed to Finish Top 12: 57.95
Notes: In three seasons at Montana, Ellis has accomplished plenty. She is part of Montana's school-record 4x400-meter relay team, has reached the podium of the 400-meter hurdles and has earned Academic All-Big Sky recognition every semester. She can now add another accomplishment to her resume, by qualifying for regionals. Ellis ran a lifetime-best 1:00.20 to earn bronze at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago, which also extended her season.
Hana Feilzer / Redshirt Senior / Missoula, Mont.
Event: Hammer Throw
When: Thursday, 5 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2016 (40th); 2017 (21st)
Season Best: 209-10
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 10th
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 208-3
Notes: Regarded as one of the top hammer throwers in Big Sky history, Feilzer will once again have the opportunity to showcase her talents on the big stage. She has twice before qualified for regionals, finishing 40th in 2016 and 21st in 2017. After redshirting a season ago, Feilzer now looks to take the next step during her final season and qualify for nationals. The Montana school-record-holder has a strong chance to do so, currently ranked 10th in the West Region with a top throw of 209-10, which was set at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago. The previous school record, which was also set by Feilzer, came at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, where she will be competing on Thursday.
Jensen Lillquist / Redshirt Senior / Ellensburg, Wash.
Event: Javelin
When: Friday, 1 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2015 (39th); 2016 (14th); 2018 (14th)
Season Best: 232-6
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 12th
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 232-6
Notes: Lillquist is the first male athlete under Brian Schweyen to qualify for NCAA Regionals four times in his career. Not only has Lillquist been on this stage before, but he's excelled – and over-performed. In three previous trips, he has finished better than his seeded position each time, including the last two trips, when he finished 14th both years. That's a good sign for Lillquist, who is currently seeded 12th (232-6, set at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago) and will look to maintain that position and earn his first trip to nationals.
Maryn Lowry / Redshirt Senior / Cincinnati, Ohio
Event: 1,500 Meters
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 4:24.72
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 44th
Current Time Needed to Finish Top 12: 4:17.81
Notes: A graduate transfer from Iowa State, Lowry made the most of her lone season with the Montana track team. Two weeks ago at the Big Sky Championships, she placed third in the 1,500 meters, and earlier this spring was named the Big Sky Athlete of the Week after running a lifetime-best 4:24.72. While this is Lowry's first trip to regionals as a track athlete, she has been on the national stage several times in cross country.
Brent Yeakey / Sophomore / Redmond, Ore.
Event: Shot Put
When: Saturday, 3:45 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 58-6.5
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 41st
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 64-3.25
Notes: Yeakey broke onto the scene at last year's Big Sky Championships, scoring in the shot put, and continued his progression in 2019 by scoring in both the shot put and discus. He will continue his season in the shot put, reaching NCAA Regionals for the first time. His top throw of 58-6.5 was set earlier this month.
If so, it would be an accomplishment several years in the making, and would cap a tremendous collegiate career in remarkable fashion.
The career accolades are more than the Ellensburg, Wash., native could have ever imagined when he came to Missoula as an 18-year-old. He's a four-time All-Big Sky performer in the javelin, winning a pair of conference titles. He's the first male athlete in Brian Schweyen's 11-year coaching career to qualify for NCAA Regionals four times. He's earned academic letters every semester of his career, is a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection and completed his master's degree in English literature after earning his undergraduate degree in three years.
It won't take away anything the thrower has already accomplished if he doesn't achieve it, but there's one last thing Lillquist would like to check off his collegiate bucket list: qualify for nationals.
Judging by his recent performances and where he's currently at, Lillquist has a strong chance to do so. He'll be competing against 47 other javelin throwers this week, with the top 12 advancing to next month's NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. Lillquist is currently seeded 12th.
Even more encouraging, in his three previous trips to regionals, Lillquist has finished above his seeded position all three times.
"He's prepared," Schweyen said. "I think he's very calm and I think he's confident. He knows what he has to do, and I think he's ready to go do it."
To finally break through would be something that is years in the making. In 2015, as a freshman, Lillquist got his feet wet with a 39th-place finish at regionals. Then things got serious.
In 2016, he placed 14th, just 4 feet away from a trip to nationals. Through two flights, the then-sophomore was in second place, but strong throws from his competitors in the final flight bumped him out or range. Lillquist redshirted in 2017 with an injured back, but that only gave him more time to prepare for regionals again. Two weeks after he won his second Big Sky Conference title in the javelin, Lillquist again had a strong performance at regionals, but – again – narrowly missed the cut.
Lillquist finished 14th again in 2018, just 2 feet away from advancing. Making the miss even more painful, if he would have been competing in the NCAA East Region – made up of the top 48 throwers from that side of the country – he would have finished fifth, easily making the cut.
"The last couple times have been really tough, honestly," Lillquist said. "I've been on the verge twice, and whether it was unlucky or me not having my best throws, I haven't gotten it done. That's been my motivation."
Lillquist enters his final shot in a good position. In his most-recent meet – the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago – he threw a lifetime-best 232-6. That mark would have earned him All-America honors at last year's NCAA Championships.
But regionals is a different dynamic than a typical meet. With each thrower getting just three attempts, there's little room for error.
"There's definitely more pressure," Lillquist acknowledged. "It's a completely different atmosphere because there are so many people here. At the end of the day, though, you're still trying to perfect your technique and throw as far as you can."
Lillquist is coming off of a career-best performance and has been in this spot before. He not only is competing at regionals for the fourth time, but he has also competed at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium multiple times, including last year's regionals.
"The Big Sky Championships gave me a lot of confidence moving forward," Lillquist said. "Essentially, I'm just trying to repeat those throws and hopefully have another big one. This week is all about the one big throw and getting to nationals."
Lillquist isn't the only top competitor for the Griz. Hana Feilzer, who holds two school records and is a two-time Big Sky champion in the hammer throw, will be competing at regionals for the third time. She is currently seeded 10th and also has a strong opportunity to advance to next month's NCAA Championships.
Feilzer placed 21st in 2017, as a junior, before redshirting in 2018. Her season-best throw of 209-10 ranks 23rd in the entire country.
"I don't think there's any pressure on Hana," Schweyen said. "I think she knows she's 100 percent capable of doing this, and she can now go out and show it. She's been building for this moment for two years now, and she's ready."
Also competing for Montana is Jane Booth (high jump), Olivia Ellis (400-meter hurdles), Maryn Lowry (1,500 meters) and Brent Yeakey (shot put). Booth has participated at regionals twice before, while the others will be competing for the first time.
"We have two athletes who absolutely have a legitimate shot to move on to the next level," Schweyen said of Feilzer and Lillquist. "But even some of the athletes who aren't necessarily expected to move on can do big things. Jane has been here before and is capable of jumping a height that can get to nationals. To get here is a well-deserved honor for all six of our athletes, and you never know what will happen or how a meet will unfold."
Below is a look at each athlete and when he or she will compete:
What to know about the NCAA West Regional:
When: Thursday-Saturday (click here for a complete schedule)
Who: The top 48 West Regional athletes in each event. There is also an East Region that selects the top 48 athletes from that side of the country.
Where: Hornet Stadium, on the campus of Sacramento State University
How to follow: Live results can be tracked online. Additionally, fans can purchase a subscription to FloTrack Pro to watch a live broadcast.
Fun fact: In 11 seasons under Brian Schweyen, the Grizzlies have qualified 86 athletes to NCAA Regionals. Montana will look to send its first athlete to nationals since Stephanie Wells in 2015 (javelin).
Jane Booth / Redshirt Junior / Corvallis, Mont.
Event: High Jump
When: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2017 (30th); 2018 (34th)
Season Best: 5-8.5
Career Best: 5-9.25
NCAA West Region Rank: 44th
Current Height Needed to Finish Top 12: 5-10.75
Notes: Booth has been in this position before, qualifying for regionals in each of her first two seasons, as well. She placed 30th in 2017 and 34th in 2018, but this spring is going into the meet with momentum. Booth is coming off of a season-best performance in the high jump, placing third at the Big Sky Championships.
Olivia Ellis / Redshirt Junior / Spokane, Wash.
Event: 400-Meter Hurdles
When: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 1:00.20
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 46th
Current Time Needed to Finish Top 12: 57.95
Notes: In three seasons at Montana, Ellis has accomplished plenty. She is part of Montana's school-record 4x400-meter relay team, has reached the podium of the 400-meter hurdles and has earned Academic All-Big Sky recognition every semester. She can now add another accomplishment to her resume, by qualifying for regionals. Ellis ran a lifetime-best 1:00.20 to earn bronze at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago, which also extended her season.
Hana Feilzer / Redshirt Senior / Missoula, Mont.
Event: Hammer Throw
When: Thursday, 5 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2016 (40th); 2017 (21st)
Season Best: 209-10
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 10th
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 208-3
Notes: Regarded as one of the top hammer throwers in Big Sky history, Feilzer will once again have the opportunity to showcase her talents on the big stage. She has twice before qualified for regionals, finishing 40th in 2016 and 21st in 2017. After redshirting a season ago, Feilzer now looks to take the next step during her final season and qualify for nationals. The Montana school-record-holder has a strong chance to do so, currently ranked 10th in the West Region with a top throw of 209-10, which was set at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago. The previous school record, which was also set by Feilzer, came at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, where she will be competing on Thursday.
Jensen Lillquist / Redshirt Senior / Ellensburg, Wash.
Event: Javelin
When: Friday, 1 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: 2015 (39th); 2016 (14th); 2018 (14th)
Season Best: 232-6
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 12th
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 232-6
Notes: Lillquist is the first male athlete under Brian Schweyen to qualify for NCAA Regionals four times in his career. Not only has Lillquist been on this stage before, but he's excelled – and over-performed. In three previous trips, he has finished better than his seeded position each time, including the last two trips, when he finished 14th both years. That's a good sign for Lillquist, who is currently seeded 12th (232-6, set at the Big Sky Championships two weeks ago) and will look to maintain that position and earn his first trip to nationals.
Maryn Lowry / Redshirt Senior / Cincinnati, Ohio
Event: 1,500 Meters
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 4:24.72
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 44th
Current Time Needed to Finish Top 12: 4:17.81
Notes: A graduate transfer from Iowa State, Lowry made the most of her lone season with the Montana track team. Two weeks ago at the Big Sky Championships, she placed third in the 1,500 meters, and earlier this spring was named the Big Sky Athlete of the Week after running a lifetime-best 4:24.72. While this is Lowry's first trip to regionals as a track athlete, she has been on the national stage several times in cross country.
Brent Yeakey / Sophomore / Redmond, Ore.
Event: Shot Put
When: Saturday, 3:45 p.m. (MT)
Regional Experience: —
Season Best: 58-6.5
Career Best: Same
NCAA West Region Rank: 41st
Current Distance Needed to Finish Top 12: 64-3.25
Notes: Yeakey broke onto the scene at last year's Big Sky Championships, scoring in the shot put, and continued his progression in 2019 by scoring in both the shot put and discus. He will continue his season in the shot put, reaching NCAA Regionals for the first time. His top throw of 58-6.5 was set earlier this month.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and FieldGriz Volleyball Press Conference - 10/6/25
Tuesday, October 07
Griz TV Live Stream
Monday, October 06
Montana vs Idaho St. Highlights
Sunday, October 05
Montana Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, October 02
