Johnstone sets school record in 400 meters, reaches podium twice

Wednesday, May 12

Ogden, Utah

Montana

Big Sky Outdoor Championships

Photo by: Weber State Athletics

Johnstone sets school record in 400 meters, reaches podium twice

5/15/2021 8:21:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Meet Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

OGDEN, Utah – Montana sprinter Cade Johnstone stole the show on Saturday, racking up 16 points for the Grizzlies while setting a school record in the men's 400 meters and reaching the podium twice.

Johnstone, a sophomore from Forsyth, Montana, ran a time of 46.58 in the men's 400 meters, not only winning a Big Sky title in the event, but breaking Tony Coe's 36-year-old school record (46.64). He is the first Grizzly in school history to win the men's 400 meters (three athletes won race in the 1970s, when the distance was 440 yards).

Running in Lane 4 after winning Friday's preliminary race, Johnstone was in fifth place for much of the race. He made his first move about midway through the race, between the second and third turns, where he jumped from fifth to third. As the runners reached the final straightaway, he was still several strides behind the first two runners, but kept gaining ground, where he moved into second place, and over the final few strides took the top position. His time currently ranks 30^th in the NCAA West Region, giving him a potential opportunity to advance to regionals later this month.

What a finish for Cade Johnstone!

◽️ 10 points!
◽️ Big Sky champion!
◽️ School record! #GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/AX3qlwzMTu
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021

"Looking back, I actually wish I would have started a little faster," Johnstone reflected. "I waited a little too long, and probably stressed everybody out a little bit, but it worked out in the end."

Johnstone said he knew the time he needed to break, noting he had it written down, but the biggest thing he wanted was a time that would qualify him for NCAA Regionals.

"I wanted to run something in the 46 range, something that could potentially qualify me for regionals," Johnstone said. "When I saw my time, it was mostly relief. I hadn't run for two outdoor seasons because of COVID and I've had so many injuries off and on. There were so many emotions hitting me at once. I was really excited, and I definitely wanted to win that one for my brother (Paul). Even though he's redshirting this year, he's still been training with me and pushing me every step of the way."

Johnstone's record-breaking race comes two years after he was part of Montana's championship 4x400-meter relay team, that also set a school record. He missed last season due to injury, and has been limited during parts of this spring with an injury, as well.

Just more than an hour after his 400 meters performance, Johnstone was again on the track in the 200 meters. The sophomore again came from behind, being second-to-last midway through the race before the group hit the straightaway and Johnstone again made his move. He finished third (21.22), with a PR by more than four-tenths of a second.

What a day for Cade Johnstone!

After winning the 400 meters with a school-record time of 47.50, he again comes from behind to reach the podium in the 200 meters!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/dtC9ARyE9S
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021

Running in the Finals: Montana had nine runners advance from Friday's preliminaries to Saturday's finals, giving the Grizzlies ample points across eight different events.

Joining Johnstone on the podium was freshman Holly Sudol, who placed third in the 400-meter hurdles. After being seeded 10^th going into the meet, Sudol recorded a 2-second PR on Friday to qualify for Saturday's race. She was right on pace with Friday's mark, finishing in 1:01.67.

Holly Sudol reaches the podium at her first #BigSkyTF Championship! She finishes 3rd at 1:01.67!#GrizTF #GoGriz

pic.twitter.com/ryv6xPhQGP
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021

Also on the women's side, Montana got sixth-place finishes from freshmen Emma Normand (12.30 in the 100 meters) and Ailsa Gilbert (14.38 in the 100-meter hurdles).

For the men, the Grizzlies had two scorers in the 800 meters, with freshman Quincy Fast (1:51.61) and senior Jacob Lamb (1:52.08) placing fifth and sixth, respectively. Sophomore Kip Krebsbach was also a fifth-place finisher in the men's 100 meters (10.72).

Field Scorers: Montana saw plenty of success from its field athletes on Friday, and that carried over on Saturday. The highlight was senior Brent Yeakey, who reached the podium in the discus with a runner-up finish (174-6).

Yeakey, who also scored Friday in the shot put, has now scored eight times during his career. He also qualified for NCAA Regionals in the shot put in 2019 and holds three schools records (indoor shot put, outdoor shot put, outdoor discus). Yeakey entered the week ranked 38^th in the NCAA West Region in the discus, and potentially will have an opportunity to extend his career later this month.

What a career! We're proud of you, Brent! #GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/gf0QCpMacg
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021

Also scoring in the men's discus was freshman Matt Ward, who threw 166-1 to finish seventh. Ward also placed ninth in the hammer throw, with a lifetime-best-throw of 187-9.

Fellow freshmen Alfred Peterson (6-5 in the men's high jump, tied for seventh) and Autumn Morse (143-1 in the women's javelin, seventh) also were point-scorers for the Griz. Morse came into the meet seeded 13^th in the javelin, but moved up six spots with an 8-foot PR.

Final Standings: Montana's men finished sixth with 68 points, giving the Grizzlies a top-six finish for the sixth time in the past 10 seasons. The women placed seventh with 57 points. In total 21 of Montana's 26 scorers this week are expected to return next season, with 14 of them being freshmen.

Saturday's Competitors:
Women's 100 meters – Emma Normand (12.30, 6^th/8)
Men's 100 meters – Kip Krebsbach (10.72, 5^th/8)
Men's 200 meters – Cade Johnstone (PR 21.22, 3^rd/8)
Men's 400 meters – Cade Johnstone (PR 46.58, 1^st/8)
Men's 800 meters – Quincy Fast (1:51.61, 5^th/8); Jacob Lamb (1:52.08, 6^th)
Men's 5,000 meters – AJ Eckmann (PR 16:22.07, 30^th/49); Truman Cowan (DNF); Kyle Peterson (DNF)
Women's 5,000 meters – Olivia Lackland Henry (18:09.33, 17^th/31); Beatrix Frissell (DNF)
Women's 100-meter hurdles – Ailsa Gilbert (14.38, 6^th/8)
Women's 400-meter hurdles – Holly Sudol (1:01.67, 3^rd/8)
Men's 400-meter hurdles – Colton Hess (PR 53.57, 7^th/8)
Women's 4x400-meter relay – Holly Sudol, Jansen Ziola, Morgan Radtke, Abby Harmon (3:52.31, 6^th/10)
Men's 4x400-meter relay – Colton Hess, Jacob Lamb, Cutter Thatcher, Quincy Fast (3:15.19, 4^th/9)
Men's high jump – Alfred Peterson (6-5, T-7^th/17); Jordan Stow (6-3.25, T-13^th)
Women's pole vault – Aly Tekippe (11-11.25, 11^th/16); Kahsiah Benson (11-5.25, 14^th); Jadyn Campbell (PR 10-11.5, 16^th)
Women's triple jump – Ailsa Gilbert (38-6.25, 9^th/18)
Men's triple jump – Zane Johnson (PR 46-0.75, 9^th/12)
Women's shot put – Ariel Clark (39-7.25, 21^st/24)
Men's discus – Brent Yeakey (174-6, 2^nd/19); Matt Ward (166-1, 7^th)
Men's hammer throw – Matt Ward (PR 187-9, 9^th/13)
Women's javelin – Autumn Morse (PR 143-1, 7^th/20); Kimberly Earhart (134-4, 13^th); Jaree Mane (PR 132-10, 14^th); Tatum McNamara (PR 129-2, 17^th); Emilie Hinrichs (foul)

A champion. 3 podium finishes. 11 point-scorers. 9 finals qualifiers. 31 PRs.

Day 3 of the #BigSkyTF Championships had it all!

📰 https://t.co/L9HfMCWF6m #GrizTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yeSbCdDw5s
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 15, 2021

Montana's Point-Scorers (Women)
10, Tanessa Morris, 1^st, hammer throw
8, Jansen Ziola, 2^nd, heptathlon
6, Abby Dodge, 3^rd, high jump
6, Holly Sudol, 3^rd, 400-meter hurdles
5, Jaree Mane, 4^th, heptathlon
4, Holly Houston, 5^th, discus
3, Ailsa Gilbert, 6^th, 100-meter hurdles
3, Emma Normand, 6^th, 100 meters
3, Morgan Radtke, 6^th, heptathlon
2, Morgan Radtke, 7^th, high jump
2, Whitney Morrison, 7^th, heptathlon
2, Autumn Morse, 7^th, javelin
1, Jansen Ziola, 8^th, long jump
0.75, Holly Sudol, 6^th, 4x400-meter relay
0.75, Jansen Ziola, 6^th, 4x400-meter relay
0.75, Morgan Radtke, 6^th, 4x400-meter relay
0.75, Abby Harmon, 6^th, 4x400-meter relay

Montana's Point-Scorers (Men)
10, Cade Johnstone, 1^st, 400 meters
8, Zane Johnson, 2^nd, pole vault
8, Brent Yeakey, 2^nd, discus
6, Cade Johnstone, 3^rd, 200 meters
5, Evan Todd, 4^th, javelin
4, Peterson Bohannon, 5^th, long jump
4, Quincy Fast, 5^th, 800 meters
4, Kip Krebsbach, 5^th, 100 meters
3, Jacob Lamb, 6^th, 800 meters
3, Jordan Stow, 6^th, long jump
3, Brent Yeakey, 6^th, shot put
2, Colton Hess, 7^th, 400-meter hurdles
2, Matt Ward, 7^th, discus
1.25, Colton Hess, 5^th, 4x400-meter relay
1.25, Cutter Thatcher, 5^th, 4x400-meter relay
1.25, Quincy Fast, 5^th, 4x400-meter relay
1.25, Jacob Lamb, 5^th, 4x400-meter relay
1, Alfred Peterson, T-7^th, high jump
1, Matthew Hockett, 8^th, javelin

Women's Team Standings
1. Northern Arizona, 207
2. Weber State, 142
3. Montana State, 78
4. Idaho State, 73
5. Idaho, 62
6. Southern Utah, 60
7. Montana, 57
8. Sacramento State, 50
9. Northern Colorado, 47
10. Eastern Washington, 41
11. Portland State, 2

Men's Team Standings
1. Northern Arizona, 168
2. Montana State, 122
3. Idaho, 106
4. Weber State, 105
5. Eastern Washington, 96
6. Montana, 68
7. Southern Utah, 51
8. Idaho State, 48
9. Sacramento State, 28
10. Northern Colorado, 20
11. Portland State, 2