Grizzlies head back to Spokane looking for more strong marks

Thursday, February 3

Spokane, Wash.

Montana

WSU Invitational

Paul Johnstone - Idaho Team Challenge - 1/29/22

Grizzlies head back to Spokane looking for more strong marks

2/2/2022 4:46:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Meet Schedule Live Stream (All Days)Live Results (WSU Invitational)Live Results (WSU Open)

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana track & field team is heading back to Spokane, Washington, this weekend for a pair of meets at The Podium. This will be the Grizzlies' second time competing in the new, state-of-the-art facility in the past month.

The last time Montana competed at The Podium, just three weeks ago, the Grizzlies had some memorable performances, including Jaydon Green, who was within three-hundredths of a second from a 41-year-old school record in the 60-meter hurdles. Also that day, identical twins Cade Johnstone and Paul Johnstone finished second and third, respectively, in the 400 meters, with only one of UCLA's top athletes finishing ahead of them.

The Grizzlies also got a win in the men's 5,000 meters, with Joel Mendez running a time of 14:44.62. Mendez, a sophomore from Arizona, is coming off of the best performance of his career – and one of the best by a Montana distance runner ever – when he became the first Grizzly on record to run a sub-4:15 mile and sub-8:30 3,000 meters race on the same day.

The majority of Montana's athletes will compete this weekend in the WSU Open, which will be held on Friday. A handful will also compete in the WSU Invitational, which stretches from Thursday through Saturday. More than three dozen teams from across the western United States will send athletes to the races this weekend, ranging from Division II to the Big Sky Conference all the way up to the Pac-12 Conference.

Competing in the WSU Invitational, which, in general, will feature a higher level of competition, will be 13 Griz athletes, the majority being distance runners. Additionally, three female multi-athletes will compete, including Jansen Ziola, who will have a busy few days, participating in the five-event pentathlon and standalone 60-meter hurdles and long jump.

A total of 20 males are registered for the WSU Open, most being runners. Twelve will compete in multiple events, including Cooper Hewett and Jason Upton, who are each signed up for the 60 meters, 200 meters and long jump.

The women's field for the WSU Open is stacked with athletes who will stay busy, including sprinter Camryn Dezember, who is registered for the 60, 200 and 400 meters. Ailsa Gilbert is scheduled to compete in the 60 meters, 60-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump. Additionally, Montana's three multi-event participants for the WSU Invitational are signed up for three to five events in the WSU Open, depending on the how the weekend plays out. Ziola, for example, is registered for the 200 meters, 60-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump and shot put.

The Grizzlies' multi-event athletes are also entered for the shot put, the only athletes on the weekend – male or female – who will participate in a throwing event.

Action begins Thursday at 1:30 p.m. (MT) with the women's pentathlon. The WSU Open will take place all day and night Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. (MT). The WSU Invitational will feature a few events on Friday night, with the majority being held on Saturday. All races and competitions this weekend will be available to watch on a live stream through RunnerSpace.

WSU Invitational Entries
Men's 400 meters – Cade Johnstone, Paul Johnstone
Men's 800 meters – Quincy Fast
Men's mile – Joel Mendez
Men's 5,000 meters – AJ Eckmann, Ellis McKean, Joel Mendez, Maxwell Scott
Men's 60-meter hurdles – Jaydon Green

Women's 5,000 meters – Beatrix Frissell, Olivia Lackland Henry
Women's 60-meter hurdles – Jansen Ziola
Women's long jump – Jansen Ziola
Women's high jump – Morgan Radtke
Women's pentathlon – Jaree Mane, Morgan Radtke, Jansen Ziola

WSU Open Entries
Men's 60 meters – Cooper Hewett, Teagun Holycross, Brandon Jones, Jason Upton
Men's 200 meters – Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Cooper Hewett, Teagun Holycross, Brandon Jones, Cutter Thatcher, Jason Upton
Men's 400 meters – Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Cutter Thatcher
Men's 800 meters – Casey Crouch, Will Dauenhauer
Men's mile – Casey Crouch, Will Dauenhauer, Hunter May
Men's 3,000 meters – Nathan Carter, Jordan Hansen, Josh Haynes, Rogelio Mares, Hunter May, Ben Vanderbosch
Men's 60-meter hurdles – Jaydon Green
Men's high jump – Alfred Peterson
Men's pole vault – Zane Johnson, Carson Weeden
Men's long jump – Cooper Hewett, Gordon McMillion, Alfred Peterson, Jason Upton
Men's triple jump – Zane Johnson

Women's 60 meters – Catie Buck, Camryn Dezember, Ailsa Gilbert, Audrey Smith
Women's 200 meters – Catie Buck, Camryn Dezember, Abby Harmon, Morgan Radtke, Audrey Smith, Jansen Ziola
Women's 400 meters – Camryn Dezember, Mikenna Ells, Jaree Mane, Katie Whitehurst
Women's 800 meters – Bridget Boyle, McKinlee Mihelish, Molly Sherman
Women's mile – Carly Dahms, Mackenzie Morgan
Women's 60-meter hurdles – Carlee Fryberger, Ailsa Gilbert, Jaree Mane, Jansen Ziola
Women's 4x400-meter relay – Katie Whitehurst, Whitney Morrison, Abby Harmon, Mikenna Ells
Women's high jump – Morgan Radtke, Jansen Ziola
Women's pole vault – Jadyn Campbell, Molly Chambers, Shealyne McGee, Emma Zimmerman
Women's long jump – Ailsa Gilbert, Jaree Mane, Whitney Morrison, Morgan Radtke, Jansen Ziola
Women's triple jump – Ailsa Gilbert
Women's shot put – Jaree Mane, Jansen Ziola