Photo by: Derek Johnson
Morris wins hammer throw, 1 of 3 Grizzlies to reach podium on Friday
5/14/2021 9:33:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
OGDEN, Utah – Montana earned 46 combined points on Friday, the third day of the 2021 Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The day featured 31 lifetime-best marks, 11 individual scorers, nine qualifiers for Saturday's running events and a Big Sky title in the women's hammer throw.
Junior Tanessa Morris was the favorite to win the hammer, coming in with the best mark in the Big Sky this season. The target was on her back, and she did not disappoint, winning the competition with a top throw of 199-0.
"I actually think that (having the target on her back) motivated me more," Morris said. "That makes me pumped up and motivated to throw even further. My coach just told me, 'What you've been doing has been working, so keep doing what you've been doing'.
"I tried to think of this meet as just another track meet with a big word at the end of it."
Morris' first throw went 185-8, which despite being a 'safe' throw to ensure she could advance to the finals, in case she fouled on her second and third throws, was good enough to win the competition. No other thrower surpassed 182 feet.
Morris, who ranks second in Montana history with a top throw of 202-1, knew she had more in the tank, though. She reached 189-10 on her second throw and 188-2 on her third, to enter the finals with the top distance. Then on her fifth throw, she let loose and reached 199-0.
For reference, just 64 Division-I throwers have topped 199 feet this season, and her season-best throw of 202-1 ranks in the top 50, including 23rd in the NCAA West Region.
"I can tell by my first turn if it's going to be 60 meters or 55 meters," she said, noting she knew her 199-foot winning throw was going to be a good one before she released it. "If that first turn is right, it gives you way more opportunity to get that extra distance."
Morris, a Canadian native who began her collegiate career at the University of Lethbridge, is in her first season competing for Montana. While her family was unable to travel to Ogden due to COVID-19 restrictions, they were watching the livestream and cheering from up north.
"My parents were so excited for me," Morris said. "They were broadcasting the meet on Facebook. My mom sent me videos she recorded on her phone, and you could hear my dad cheering. Today was a lot of fun, and it felt like all of my hard work culminated in the end."
Johnson has had a solid freshman season and entered Friday seeded seventh in the pole vault. Looking to score points for his team, the Dillon, Montana, native did that and more with a PR of 15-7.25. For comparison, he reached 15-1 in his most-recent meet. The performance gave him eight points for Montana, and allowed him to earn a medal in his first Championship meet.
Friday's Results
Women's 100 meters (prelims) – Emma Normand (PR 11.94q, 6th/19)
Men's 100 meters (prelims) – Kip Krebsbach (10.64q, 4th/20); Teagun Holycross (11.05, 19th)
Women's 200 meters (prelims) – Emma Normand (PR 25.31, 13th/16)
Men's 200 meters (prelims) – Cade Johnstone (PR 21.27q, 2nd/18); Kip Krebsbach (21.86, 12th); Teagun Holycross (22.58, 15th)
Men's 400 meters (prelims) – Cade Johnstone (PR 47.50q, 1st/16)
Women's 800 meters (prelims) – Carly Dahms (2:22.26, 17th/19)
Men's 800 meters (prelims) – Jacob Lamb (PR 1:49.92q, 1st/29); Quincy Fast (PR 1:51.00q, 5th); Will Dauenhauer (PR 1:54.38, 14th)
Men's 1,500 meters (prelims) – Truman Cowan (4:01.45, 20th/22)
Men's 10,000 meters – Kyle Peterson (32:58.41, 22nd/23)
Women's 100-meter hurdles (prelims) – Ailsa Gilbert (PR 14.32q, 7th/19); Jansen Ziola (SCR)
Women's 400-meter hurdles (prelims) – Holly Sudol (PR 1:01.44q, 3rd/14); Abby Harmon (PR 1:04.43, 12th)
Men's 400-meter hurdles (prelims) – Colton Hess (PR 53.76q, 8th/16); Cutter Thatcher (PR 53.82, 9th)
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase – AJ Eckmann (9:42.53, 10th/14); Joel Mendez (SCR)
Women's high jump – Abby Dodge (PR 5-7.25, 3rd/15); Morgan Radtke (5-4.25, T-7th)
Men's pole vault – Zane Johnson (PR 15-7.25, 2nd/18)
Women's long jump – Jansen Ziola (18-7.25, 8th/23); Ailsa Gilbert (18-3.75, 13th)
Men's long jump – Peterson Bohannon (PR 24-0.75, 5th/18); Jordan Stow (23-9.5, 6th); Jason Upton (23-1.25, 9th)
Men's shot put – Brent Yeakey (57-8.25, 6th/17)
Women's discus – Holly Houston (151-11, 5th/25)
Women's hammer throw – Tanessa Morris (199-0, 1st/30); Ariel Clark (160-6, 16th); Emilie Hinrichs (PR 138-11, 24th)
Men's javelin – Evan Todd (208-8, 4th/14); Matthew Hockett (PR 197-3, 8th); Dylan Kipp (193-7, 11th); Everett Fred (183-7, 12th)
Women's heptathlon – Jansen Ziola (5,362 points, 2nd/14); Jaree Mane (5,001, 4th); Morgan Radtke (4,656, 6th); Whitney Morrison (4,595, 7th); Holly Sudol (4,306, 10th); Ailsa Gilbert (DNF)
10, Tanessa Morris, 1st, hammer throw
8, Jansen Ziola, 2nd, heptathlon
6, Abby Dodge, 3rd, high jump
5, Jaree Mane, 4th, heptathlon
4, Holly Houston, 5th, discus
3, Morgan Radtke, 6th, heptathlon
2, Morgan Radtke, 7th, high jump
2, Whitney Morrison, 7th, heptathlon
1, Jansen Ziola, 8th, long jump
Montana's Point-Scorers (Men)
8, Zane Johnson, 2nd, pole vault
5, Evan Todd, 4th, javelin
4, Peterson Bohannon, 5th, long jump
3, Jordan Stow, 6th, long jump
3, Brent Yeakey, 6th, shot put
1, Matthew Hockett, 8th, javelin
1. Northern Arizona, 47
2. Weber State, 46
3. Montana, 40
3. Idaho State, 40
5. Southern Utah, 27
6. Montana State, 26
7. Idaho, 24
8. Eastern Washington, 11
9. Sacramento State, 7
10. Northern Colorado, 5
Men's Team Standings
1. Weber State, 77
2. Montana State, 51
3. Northern Arizona, 40
4. Eastern Washington, 26
5. Montana, 24
6. Idaho, 22
7. Southern Utah, 21
8. Idaho State, 7
9. Northern Colorado, 3
10. Portland State, 2
Junior Tanessa Morris was the favorite to win the hammer, coming in with the best mark in the Big Sky this season. The target was on her back, and she did not disappoint, winning the competition with a top throw of 199-0.
"I actually think that (having the target on her back) motivated me more," Morris said. "That makes me pumped up and motivated to throw even further. My coach just told me, 'What you've been doing has been working, so keep doing what you've been doing'.
"I tried to think of this meet as just another track meet with a big word at the end of it."
Morris' first throw went 185-8, which despite being a 'safe' throw to ensure she could advance to the finals, in case she fouled on her second and third throws, was good enough to win the competition. No other thrower surpassed 182 feet.
Morris, who ranks second in Montana history with a top throw of 202-1, knew she had more in the tank, though. She reached 189-10 on her second throw and 188-2 on her third, to enter the finals with the top distance. Then on her fifth throw, she let loose and reached 199-0.
For reference, just 64 Division-I throwers have topped 199 feet this season, and her season-best throw of 202-1 ranks in the top 50, including 23rd in the NCAA West Region.
"I can tell by my first turn if it's going to be 60 meters or 55 meters," she said, noting she knew her 199-foot winning throw was going to be a good one before she released it. "If that first turn is right, it gives you way more opportunity to get that extra distance."
Morris, a Canadian native who began her collegiate career at the University of Lethbridge, is in her first season competing for Montana. While her family was unable to travel to Ogden due to COVID-19 restrictions, they were watching the livestream and cheering from up north.
"My parents were so excited for me," Morris said. "They were broadcasting the meet on Facebook. My mom sent me videos she recorded on her phone, and you could hear my dad cheering. Today was a lot of fun, and it felt like all of my hard work culminated in the end."
Jumpers Leap to Podium: Aside from Morris' victory in the hammer, Montana's two biggest performances came in the vertical jumps. Freshman Zane Johnson placed second in the men's pole vault while senior Abby Dodge finished third in the women's high jump.🎥 #BigSkyTF: @MontanaGrizTF's Tanessa Morris (@Tess_M_15) spoke with @mariluzcook about winning the women's hammer throw at her first Big Sky Championship ⬇️@UMGrizzlies #GoGriz #ExperienceElevated 🥇🐻 pic.twitter.com/iZHSLvUE5g
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) May 14, 2021
Johnson has had a solid freshman season and entered Friday seeded seventh in the pole vault. Looking to score points for his team, the Dillon, Montana, native did that and more with a PR of 15-7.25. For comparison, he reached 15-1 in his most-recent meet. The performance gave him eight points for Montana, and allowed him to earn a medal in his first Championship meet.
Dodge has previously competed in four Championship meets for Montana, but despite being a strong jumper for the Griz, had yet to score. She finished ninth in 2018 before an 11th-place performance in 2019. On Friday, in her final meet as a Grizzly, she went out with a bang, clearing 5-7.25 for the first time in her life – on her first attempt, no less – and reaching the podium with a third-place finish.Huge shoutout to Zane Johnson, who PR'd in the pole vault (15-7.25) to reach the podium with a 2nd-place finish!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yzegejG8x9
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2021
More Scoring Action: Joining Morris, Johnson and Dodge with point-scoring performances were eight additional athletes:Our Women's High Jump Medalists 🥳
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) May 14, 2021
🥇 - @MSUBobcatsTFXC
🥈 - @WeberStateTrack
🥉 - @MontanaGrizTF #ExperienceElevated x #BigSkyTF pic.twitter.com/mGbhT6hLF1
- Holly Houston (discus) – Houston closed her distinguished Griz career with a fifth-place finish in the women's discus (151-11). The Madison, Wisconsin, native is now a three-time scorer in the event, including a third-place podium finish in 2018.
- Evan Todd and Matthew Hockett (javelin) – Competing in his first Big Sky Championship meet, Todd had a big performance Friday in the men's javelin, placing fourth with a top mark of 208-8. While scoring points has been the highlight of Todd's freshman season so far, the Kalispell native isn't finished, currently ranked 19th in the NCAA West Region. Joining Todd was Hockett, a freshman from Oakesdale, Washington. Hockett had a PR of 197-3 to earn a point for the Griz. While Montana picked up six total points in the men's javelin, that was an event the Grizzlies were hoping for more from. Montana entered the meet with four of the top-10 javelin throwers in the Big Sky this season, including the top thrower in Dylan Kipp. The senior, who ranks 10th in the NCAA West Region and had reached at least 202 feet in every meet this season, was held to a top throw of 193-7 (11th). Additionally, freshman Everett Fred, a Missoula product, ranked eighth entering the meet, but placed 12th (183-7).
- Peterson Bohannon and Jordan Stow (long jump) – Like the javelin, Montana had two point-scorers in the men's long jump, led by Bohannon (24-0.75). The mark, which came on the sophomore's third jump, was a PR by nearly 4 inches. Stow, who fouled at the 2019 Championship, scored for the first time (he also scored in the indoor long jump and high jump in 2020) with a mark of 23-9.5 (sixth). Just missing a scoring mark was freshman Jason Upton, who placed ninth (23-1.25).
- Brent Yeakey (shot put) – Montana's school-record-holder for the outdoor shot put (in addition to the indoor shot put and outdoor discus) scored for the Grizzlies in the shot put with a top throw of 57-8.25. Yeakey, a senior, has now scored seven times during his career, and has a good chance to make it eight on Saturday, when he competes in the discus (currently seeded third).
- Morgan Radtke (high jump) – After scoring for the Grizzlies on Thursday during the women's heptathlon, the redshirt freshman got on the board again Friday with a seventh-place finish in the women's high jump (5-4.25), giving Montana two scorers in the event.
- Jansen Ziola (long jump) – The Canadian sophomore earned a point for Montana with a jump of 18-7.25, giving her nine points so far this week, after placing second in the heptathlon on Thursday. While the point gives her 46 for her young career, Ziola came into the meet seeded second and jumped 19-8.75 during Thursday's heptathlon, a distance that would have won the event on Friday. She also was scratched from the 100-meter hurdles, an event she came into the week ranked third in the Big Sky in.
Track Qualifiers: All of Friday's scoring events were field events, but Montana's track athletes also had several strong performances. The Grizzlies competed in 12 preliminary running events, advancing athletes to Saturday's finals in eight of them (top-eight finishes).Peterson Bohannon PRs in the long jump, reaching 24-0.75 for a 5th-place finish! Teammate Jordan Stow (23-9.5) also scored in the event!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/1Ezx6W5veI
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021
- Sophomore Cade Johnstone, who holds a Montana school record after winning the 4x400-meter relay at the 2019 Big Sky Championships, will have an opportunity to win his first individual title on Saturday. He advanced in both of his sprint races, running a time of 21.27 in the men's 200 meters and 47.50 in the men's 400 meters. Both times were personal bests, with his 200 meters time being a lifetime best by three-tenths of a second and his time in the 400 meters leading all Big Sky runners during the preliminary round.
- Senior Jacob Lamb made a name for himself in 2020 when he won an indoor title in the 800 meters. He very well could add another medal to his collection on Saturday, running the fastest preliminary time in the men's 800 meters (1:49.92). He entered the day ranked 10th in the Big Sky before not only running the fastest preliminary time, but the fastest time by a Big Sky athlete this season, and one that could potentially qualify him for NCAA Regionals. Joining Lamb in Saturday's finals will be freshman Quincy Fast, who PR'd with a time of 1:51.00 (fifth).
- Freshman Holly Sudol ran a PR by nearly 2 full seconds in the women's 400-meter hurdles (1:01.44), placing third and qualifying for Saturday's finals, after being seeded 10th.
- Freshman Emma Normand entered Friday ranked 12th in the women's 100 meters, but ran a lifetime-best by two-tenths of a second to place sixth in the preliminary round (11.94).
- Both senior Colton Hess (53.76, 8th) and freshman Cutter Thatcher (53.82, 9th) recorded PRs by nearly a full second in the men's 400-meter hurdles. Despite neither ranking in the top 10 in the Big Sky this season, Hess qualified for Saturday's finals while Thatcher is the first alternate.
- Out of 20 runners, sophomore Kip Krebsbach placed fourth in the preliminary round of the men's 100 meters (10.64).
- Freshman Ailsa Gilbert recorded a PR in the women's 100-meter hurdles, finishing seventh with a time of 14.32, which advanced her to Saturday's finals.
Saturday's action will feature the remainder of the field events, in addition to the 5,000 meters, relays and finals from Friday's preliminary events. Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. and fans can follow along for free on Pluto TV (channel 1054), Facebook (livestream for all throwing events) and with live scoring.Cade Johnstone wins his heat of the 400-meter prelims and advances to Saturday's finals!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/BL2Li5ppLh
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2021
Friday's Results
Women's 100 meters (prelims) – Emma Normand (PR 11.94q, 6th/19)
Men's 100 meters (prelims) – Kip Krebsbach (10.64q, 4th/20); Teagun Holycross (11.05, 19th)
Women's 200 meters (prelims) – Emma Normand (PR 25.31, 13th/16)
Men's 200 meters (prelims) – Cade Johnstone (PR 21.27q, 2nd/18); Kip Krebsbach (21.86, 12th); Teagun Holycross (22.58, 15th)
Men's 400 meters (prelims) – Cade Johnstone (PR 47.50q, 1st/16)
Women's 800 meters (prelims) – Carly Dahms (2:22.26, 17th/19)
Men's 800 meters (prelims) – Jacob Lamb (PR 1:49.92q, 1st/29); Quincy Fast (PR 1:51.00q, 5th); Will Dauenhauer (PR 1:54.38, 14th)
Men's 1,500 meters (prelims) – Truman Cowan (4:01.45, 20th/22)
Men's 10,000 meters – Kyle Peterson (32:58.41, 22nd/23)
Women's 100-meter hurdles (prelims) – Ailsa Gilbert (PR 14.32q, 7th/19); Jansen Ziola (SCR)
Women's 400-meter hurdles (prelims) – Holly Sudol (PR 1:01.44q, 3rd/14); Abby Harmon (PR 1:04.43, 12th)
Men's 400-meter hurdles (prelims) – Colton Hess (PR 53.76q, 8th/16); Cutter Thatcher (PR 53.82, 9th)
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase – AJ Eckmann (9:42.53, 10th/14); Joel Mendez (SCR)
Women's high jump – Abby Dodge (PR 5-7.25, 3rd/15); Morgan Radtke (5-4.25, T-7th)
Men's pole vault – Zane Johnson (PR 15-7.25, 2nd/18)
Women's long jump – Jansen Ziola (18-7.25, 8th/23); Ailsa Gilbert (18-3.75, 13th)
Men's long jump – Peterson Bohannon (PR 24-0.75, 5th/18); Jordan Stow (23-9.5, 6th); Jason Upton (23-1.25, 9th)
Men's shot put – Brent Yeakey (57-8.25, 6th/17)
Women's discus – Holly Houston (151-11, 5th/25)
Women's hammer throw – Tanessa Morris (199-0, 1st/30); Ariel Clark (160-6, 16th); Emilie Hinrichs (PR 138-11, 24th)
Men's javelin – Evan Todd (208-8, 4th/14); Matthew Hockett (PR 197-3, 8th); Dylan Kipp (193-7, 11th); Everett Fred (183-7, 12th)
Women's heptathlon – Jansen Ziola (5,362 points, 2nd/14); Jaree Mane (5,001, 4th); Morgan Radtke (4,656, 6th); Whitney Morrison (4,595, 7th); Holly Sudol (4,306, 10th); Ailsa Gilbert (DNF)
Montana's Point-Scorers (Women)What a performance for Jacob Lamb! The senior entered today ranked 10th in the Big Sky in the 800 meters, but ran the fastest time this season by a #BigSkyTF athlete (1:49.92).
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2021
Both Lamb and Quincy Fast (PR 1:51.00) have qualified for Saturday's finals! #GrizTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/1yaGEKEnvy
10, Tanessa Morris, 1st, hammer throw
8, Jansen Ziola, 2nd, heptathlon
6, Abby Dodge, 3rd, high jump
5, Jaree Mane, 4th, heptathlon
4, Holly Houston, 5th, discus
3, Morgan Radtke, 6th, heptathlon
2, Morgan Radtke, 7th, high jump
2, Whitney Morrison, 7th, heptathlon
1, Jansen Ziola, 8th, long jump
Montana's Point-Scorers (Men)
8, Zane Johnson, 2nd, pole vault
5, Evan Todd, 4th, javelin
4, Peterson Bohannon, 5th, long jump
3, Jordan Stow, 6th, long jump
3, Brent Yeakey, 6th, shot put
1, Matthew Hockett, 8th, javelin
Women's Team StandingsMontana's Brent Yeakey's first throw of the men's shot put. He's a contender in the shot and discus this weekend at the #BigSkyTF outdoor championships pic.twitter.com/KTVgMkXfQN
— Skyline Sports (@SkylineSportsMT) May 14, 2021
1. Northern Arizona, 47
2. Weber State, 46
3. Montana, 40
3. Idaho State, 40
5. Southern Utah, 27
6. Montana State, 26
7. Idaho, 24
8. Eastern Washington, 11
9. Sacramento State, 7
10. Northern Colorado, 5
Men's Team Standings
1. Weber State, 77
2. Montana State, 51
3. Northern Arizona, 40
4. Eastern Washington, 26
5. Montana, 24
6. Idaho, 22
7. Southern Utah, 21
8. Idaho State, 7
9. Northern Colorado, 3
10. Portland State, 2
Emma Normand (11.94) qualifies for Saturday's finals in the women's 100 meters!
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2021
Others advancing so far include Kip Krebsbach in the 100 meters (10.64) and Ailsa Gilbert in the 100-meter hurdles (14.32)#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/MRP6P5dpcx
#NuanezNow today, @Colter_Nuanez interviewed @MontanaGrizTF standout hammer thrower Tannessa Morris and stud men's thrower Brent Yeakey to preview #BigSkyTF championship in Ogden
— Skyline Sports (@SkylineSportsMT) May 14, 2021
Tune into @1029ESPN or @SWXMontana tomorrow for a LIVE broadcast from Ogdenhttps://t.co/bEyesn4Gll
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Javelin/Multi-events
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps/Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Javelin/Multi-events
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Multi-events
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and FieldUM vs Weber State Highlights
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