Photo by: Derek Johnson
League’s coaches pick Montana to finish sixth, ninth in indoor track & field preseason polls
1/8/2021 11:17:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
FARMINGTON, Utah – While the prospects for a 2021 indoor track & field season remain uncertain, the Big Sky Conference announced the league's preseason polls on Friday morning. Montana's men's team was picked to finish tied for sixth in the 11-team poll, while the Griz women's team was slotted ninth. Voting was conducted by each school's head coach.
On the men's side, Northern Arizona secured all 11 first-place votes, followed by Montana State, Idaho, Weber State and Idaho State. Montana is tied for sixth with Southern Utah, with 62 points, ahead of Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Portland State.
Northern Arizona was also picked to win on the women's side, earning eight of the 11 first-place votes. Sacramento State was selected second, with two first-place votes, and Weber State was picked third, with the other top pick. Idaho State, Montana State, Idaho, Southern Utah, Eastern Washington, Montana, Northern Colorado and Portland State followed.
Montana's track & field student-athletes have not competed since last February's indoor championships, which were held in Pocatello, Idaho. Montana's men placed fifth, its highest finish since 2014, while the women finished sixth. Both finishes were ahead of where the coaches picked Montana in the league's preseason polls.
At the meet, Montana student-athletes won two individual titles, plus the men's 4x400-meter relay championship. The men's squad returns more than 75 percent of its point production from that meet, including Jacob Lamb – who won the men's 800 meters – and three of the four runners from the first-place 4x400-meter relay team. Montana's women's team has more turnover, graduating its top four finishers from last year's conference meet, but returns Beatrix Frissell (fifth in the 5,000 meters); Morgan Radtke (fifth in the high jump); Jaree Mane (sixth in the pentathlon, second in the distance medley relay); Carly Dahms (second in the distance medley relay; and Aly Tekippe (eighth in the pole vault).
Montana's returning point-scorers from the men's side include: Jacob Lamb (first in the 800 meters, first in the 4x400-meter relay, fifth in the distance medley relay); Paul Johnstone (second in the 400 meters, seventh in the 200 meters, first in the 4x400-meter relay); Peterson Bohannon (fourth in the long jump); Brent Yeakey (fourth in the shot put); Jordan Stow (sixth in the long jump, eighth in the high jump); Xavier Melice (first in the 4x400-meter relay); Jaydon Green (seventh in the 60-meter hurdles); Colton Hess (fifth in the distance medley relay); and Hunter May (fifth in the distance medley relay).
At this time, Montana's indoor season is uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ability to compete indoors in large quantities. If a season can happen, the Big Sky Conference indoor championships are currently set to be held in late February Bozeman, Montana.
The Grizzlies are under the guidance of Clint May, who is in his first season overseeing the track & field program after originally being hired in August 2019 to direct the cross country teams. After returning from the holiday break, the Grizzlies are expected to resume training next week.
On the men's side, Northern Arizona secured all 11 first-place votes, followed by Montana State, Idaho, Weber State and Idaho State. Montana is tied for sixth with Southern Utah, with 62 points, ahead of Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Portland State.
Northern Arizona was also picked to win on the women's side, earning eight of the 11 first-place votes. Sacramento State was selected second, with two first-place votes, and Weber State was picked third, with the other top pick. Idaho State, Montana State, Idaho, Southern Utah, Eastern Washington, Montana, Northern Colorado and Portland State followed.
Montana's track & field student-athletes have not competed since last February's indoor championships, which were held in Pocatello, Idaho. Montana's men placed fifth, its highest finish since 2014, while the women finished sixth. Both finishes were ahead of where the coaches picked Montana in the league's preseason polls.
At the meet, Montana student-athletes won two individual titles, plus the men's 4x400-meter relay championship. The men's squad returns more than 75 percent of its point production from that meet, including Jacob Lamb – who won the men's 800 meters – and three of the four runners from the first-place 4x400-meter relay team. Montana's women's team has more turnover, graduating its top four finishers from last year's conference meet, but returns Beatrix Frissell (fifth in the 5,000 meters); Morgan Radtke (fifth in the high jump); Jaree Mane (sixth in the pentathlon, second in the distance medley relay); Carly Dahms (second in the distance medley relay; and Aly Tekippe (eighth in the pole vault).
Montana's returning point-scorers from the men's side include: Jacob Lamb (first in the 800 meters, first in the 4x400-meter relay, fifth in the distance medley relay); Paul Johnstone (second in the 400 meters, seventh in the 200 meters, first in the 4x400-meter relay); Peterson Bohannon (fourth in the long jump); Brent Yeakey (fourth in the shot put); Jordan Stow (sixth in the long jump, eighth in the high jump); Xavier Melice (first in the 4x400-meter relay); Jaydon Green (seventh in the 60-meter hurdles); Colton Hess (fifth in the distance medley relay); and Hunter May (fifth in the distance medley relay).
At this time, Montana's indoor season is uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ability to compete indoors in large quantities. If a season can happen, the Big Sky Conference indoor championships are currently set to be held in late February Bozeman, Montana.
The Grizzlies are under the guidance of Clint May, who is in his first season overseeing the track & field program after originally being hired in August 2019 to direct the cross country teams. After returning from the holiday break, the Grizzlies are expected to resume training next week.
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Sprints/Jumps
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Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Multi-events
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
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Throws
/ Men's Track and FieldThursday, June 04
Friday, May 01
Friday, May 01
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