Several Grizzlies hang with nation’s elite

Friday, February 14

Seattle, Wash.

Montana

UW Invitational

Photo by: Derek Johnson

2/15/2020 8:11:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Results

By: Montana Sports Information

SEATTLE, Wash. – In its most-competitive meet of the indoor season, going up against athletes from some of the top schools all around the country, Montana found itself squarely in the mix in several events.

No athlete was bigger, though, than Paul Johnstone. Still just a sophomore, the Forsyth native continues to impress each week he competes. Johnstone, who was part of Montana's school-record relay team last May, entered the week a perfect 9-for-9 this season.

That is, all nine running events he has competed in this year, Johnstone has won, ranging from the 200 meters to the 400 meters to the 4x400 relay.

With the level of competition he would be facing this weekend, his streak would surely come to an end, though. Right?

Not the case!

Johnstone extended his perfection to 10 on Friday night, winning the men's 200 meters with a time of 21.96. He beat out runners from Oregon, Washington State, BYU, among others.

On Saturday, he was victorious once again, taking first place in the 400 meters with a time of 47.87. In second was his sophomore teammate Xavier Melice (48.79). Johnstone – along with Callum Macnab, Jacob Lamb and Melice – also won the 4x400-meter relay with a top time of 3:16.61, to improve to 12-for-12 this year.

"Hopefully he keep it going," Schweyen said. "Event wins are great for confidence, and he's a hard-working person who is the perfect teammate. He is doing a great job, and so is (assistant coach) Paul Reneau with that group."

Johnstone was one of the highlights on the weekend for Montana, but several additional Grizzlies showed out on the big stage.

Schweyen talked earlier this week about the talent in the distance events, both in quantity and quality of runners. Senior June Eastwood PR'd in the 1 mile (4:45.83), finishing 19^th out of 83 runners. Teammates Emily Pittis, who had a PR last week, reset her best performance on Saturday (4:55.88).

"June, without a doubt, had a great meet," Schweyen said. "That group is starting to peak when they need to. They have a great training group that works hard and pushes each other when they need to. It's nice to have that mindset with your teammates, and (assistant coaches) Clint May and Maryn Lowry are doing a very fine job with that group."

Senior Jane Booth had her best jump of the season, finishing third in the high jump (5-7), while the men's shot put unit had a strong day, led by Brent Yeakey (56-2, sixth) and Noah Ramirez (53-3, eighth) who both finished in the upper tier of a loaded, 18-thrower field. Sophomore Aidan Diggs finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.23), trailing only Jackson Cheung of Kajaks, a running club in Canada.

After placing fourth in the preliminary round of the 60 meters, senior Olivia Ellis jumped to second place in the finals with a season-best time of 7.68. In the finals, she passed Miya Wilson, of Oregon, and Kennedy Taube, of George Fox. Teammate Emma Normand (fifth) also advanced to the finals, as did Kip Krebsbach (sixth) on the men's side. Ellis' busy weekend also included a sixth-place performance, out of 19 runners, in the 400 meters (57.03) and a 10^th-place showing in the 60-meter hurdles.

Montana will have a tune-up meet next Friday in Bozeman, before traveling to Pocatello, Idaho, for the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"We may rest a few athletes, but we need as many of them competing as we can," Schweyen said. "We need to continue competing and continue getting better."

Women's 60 meters (preliminaries) – Olivia Ellis (7.80, 4^th/12); Emma Normand (7.93, 6^th)
Women's 60 meters (finals) – Olivia Ellis (7.68, 2^nd); Emma Normand (7.84, 5^th)
Women's 200 meters – Jaree Mane (26.81, 17^th/18)
Women's 400 meters – Olivia Ellis (57.03, 6^th/19)
Women's 1 mile – June Eastwood (4:45.83, 19^th/83); Emily Pittis (4:55.88, 52^nd)
Women's 60-meter hurdles (preliminaries) – Olivia Ellis (8.98, 10^th/17); Hannah Coburn (DQ)
Women's high jump – Jane Booth (5-7, 3^rd/10); Morgan Radtke (5-5, 5^th)
Women's long jump – Hannah Coburn (16-0.5, 11^th/13)
Women's triple jump – Rachel Lewis (36-10.5, 8^th/10); Morgan Radtke (34-9.75, 9^th)
Women's shot put – Mariah Harvey (41-6.5, 18^th/22); Holly Houston (39-2.25, 21^st)
Women's weight throw – Mariah Harvey (52-11.5, 16^th/27)

Men's 60 meters (preliminaries) – Kip Krebsbach (6.98, 7^th/13)
Men's 60 meters (finals) – Kip Krebsbach (6.96, 6^th)
Men's 200 meters – Paul Johnstone (21.96, 1^st/13); Xavier Melice (22.23, 5^th); Callum Macnab (22.40, 8^th); Kip Krebsbach (22.41, 9^th)
Men's 400 meters – Paul Johnstone (47.87, 1^st/14); Xavier Melice (48.79, 2^nd); Callum Macnab (49.56, 6^th); Chase Armstrong (49.99, 9^th); Jethro Thorne (50.99, 14^th)
Men's 800 meters – Noah Adams (1:54.01, 27^th/37); Jacob Lamb (1:54.12, 31^st)
Men's 1 mile – Andrea Baratte (4:14.89, 69^th/83)
Men's 60-meter hurdles – Aidan Diggs (8.23, 2^nd/7); Chase Armstrong (8.42, 5^th); Jaydon Green (8.62, 7^th)
Men's high jump – Jordan Stow (6-3.25, 10^th/10)
Men's long jump – Jordan Stow (22-5, 6^th/12); Aidan Diggs (22-3.75, 8^th); Josh Riley (19-11.75, 11^th); Jethro Thorne (foul)
Men's shot put – Brent Yeakey (56-2, 6^th/18); Noah Ramirez (53-3, 8^th); Shawn Humphries (51-3, 13^th)
Men's weight throw – Shawn Humphries (60-3.75, 7^th/23); Noah Ramirez (49-7.25, 21^st)
Men's 4x400-meter relay – Callum Macnab, Jacob Lamb, Paul Johnstone, Xavier Melice (3:16.61, 1^st/3)