Griz garner pair of individual titles, school record on Day 3 of Championships
5/13/2022 8:33:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Overall, Montana earned points from nine different athletes across seven events, while qualifying seven additional athletes for Saturday's running finals.
Women's hammer throw – Tanessa Morris (196-10, 1st/22); Kaitlyn Gallo (PR 183-6, 4th); Ariel Clark (170-3, 9th)
To show just how good Tanessa Morris has been in the hammer, you just have to look to Friday's results. She won the event on Friday – by nearly 6 full feet – despite not being at her best. Her top throw of 196-10 was less than her total in all but two meets this spring, yet it was far and away good enough to win the conference meet. Morris had three throws of 193 feet or further, while second-place Vernice Keyes of Eastern Washington topped out at 191-0.
Morris, who won the hammer throw in 2021, was the heavy favorite to repeat as champion. She had a 12-foot cushion entering the meet and was coming off of a school-record-setting performance last weekend, when she reached 210-4 and was named the Big Sky Conference Female Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this spring.𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝗧𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸!
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
@Tess_M_15 repeats as 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡 of the Big Sky Conference in the hammer throw! 🔨🥇#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/uabijcWHIi
Her first throw, though, hit into the net, resulting in a foul. Like she did last weekend, she threw a 'safe' throw on her second attempt, a mark of 185-1 that would have placed her fourth in the completion if she stopped there.
She wasn't done, though, reaching 193-5 on her third attempt to enter the finals round as the favorite. Impressively, Montana had one-third of the finals qualifiers, with Kaitlyn Gallo and Ariel Clark each surpassing 170 feet in the preliminary round. Clark's first throw (170-3) was her best, finishing ninth, while Gallo, competing in her first Big Sky Championship meet, PR'd by more than 10 feet to place fourth (183-6). The freshman had a fantastic day, with three of her throws surpassing 175 feet, something she had never-before done prior to Friday. Her final throw was her best and moved her from fifth to fourth place in the standings.
Morris, meanwhile, improved on her 193-5 on her third attempt, reaching 196-8 on her fourth and 196-10 on her fifth. On her final attempt, already having secured the championship title, she let loose but fouled as her body fell out of the ring.Big shoutout to Kaitlyn Gallo, who PR'd and placed 4th in the hammer (183-6) in her first #BigSkyTF Championships meet!#GrizTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ITc0jVAxbX
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Montana has now won four hammer titles in the past five Championship meets, with Hana Feilzer doing so in 2017 and 2019 and Morris going back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Morris last week broke Feilzer's school-record mark, set in 2019, and will now look to follow in Feilzer's footsteps and qualify for nationals (Morris is a lock for NCAA Regionals and currently ranks 26th in the nation this season). Prior to Montana's current run of four individual titles in five Championship meets, Montana had never before won a women's hammer throw championship.
Men's javelin – Evan Todd (224-10, 1st/12); Matthew Hockett (204-7, 5th)
Evan Todd entered the meet as the favorite, throwing the Big Sky's top mark of the season at 229-2 late in March. However, since the season-opening meet nearly two months ago, Todd hasn't been close to that distance, hovering around 200 for much of the season.
On Friday, he proved that his top throw from March was not an aberration, winning the javelin at 224-10.
Weber State's Cody Canard took the lead at 218-5 on his first throw, and it looked as if he would hold on for victory. Todd was really good, with four throws between 206 and 216 feet, but not quite on par with Canard's first throw.
That changed on Todd's final throw, as he unleashed a 224-10 that proved to be the winner.
Following that throw, there was just one throw remaining in the competition, and it came from Canard. The Wildcat put up a good attempt, reaching 209-5, but it wasn't enough to surpass Todd, who won a Big Sky title as just a sophomore. Similar to the women's hammer, it marked Montana's fourth champion in the past six outdoor Championship meets.Big Sky Conference, meet your 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡!
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Evan Todd wins the javelin with a mark of 224-10 on his final throw!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/XvFEA8tFff
Montana had two of the nine finals qualifiers, with Matthew Hockett scoring for the second year in a row. Hockett fouled on five of his six throws, but his one marked attempt – his first throw of 204-7 – was good enough to advance to the finals and score.
Women's 100 meters (prelims) – Catie Buck (11.80q, 5th/18); Emma Normand (11.95, 9th)
Catie Buck was recruited to Montana as a soccer player, playing four seasons for the perennial Big Sky champions. Injuries limited her time on the pitch, and after retiring from soccer, she took up the opportunity to compete for Montana's track & field team. She has been one of Montana's top sprinters all year, but jumped to another level on Friday when she broke Kris Schmitt's 1989 school record of 11.85.
Buck's time of 11.80 qualified her for Saturday's finals, where she will look to score for the first time. Emma Normand, who herself set a school record this year (indoor 60 meters) narrowly missed qualifying, finishing ninth despite running an impressive 11.95.
Women's long jump – Jansen Ziola (19-4.25, 3rd/21); Ailsa Gilbert (17-8, 14th)🚨 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 🚨
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
In her first season running track, former @MontanaGrizSOC player Catie Buck breaks a 33-year-old school record in the 100 meters (11.80), qualifying for Saturday's finals!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/PJBsI5uHiM
Jansen Ziola has shown throughout her career that she is capable of doing a little bit of everything. That's evidenced by the fact that she's scored in seven different events throughout her career. One of her best events, though, has always been the long jump, and she proved that again on Friday, reaching the podium with a third-place finish (19-4.25).
The opportunity nearly never arrived after Ziola fouled on her first two attempts. With just one more chance to qualify for the finals, Ziola did that and more with a jump of 18-11.75. On her next two attempts, she got even better, surpassing 19 feet, including a lifetime-best jump of 19-4.25 that got her to the podium for the eighth time in her career.Another 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠 finish for Jansen Ziola in the long jump! She jumps a lifetime-best 19-4.25 to finish 3rd, reaching the podium for the 8th time in her historic career! #GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yosUwwpCF7
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
But Ziola wasn't done, also qualifying for the finals of the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles.
Men's pole vault – Zane Johnson (15-9.75, 4th/15); Carson Weeden (14-10, 11th)
Zane Johnson earned a top-four finish for the second consecutive year in the pole vault, clearing 15-9.75. He didn't pass 15-3.75 until his third and final attempt, but once he cleared that mark, he found a rhythm, moving up 6 more inches to earn solid points for the Griz.
Men's shot put – Brent Yeakey (56-1, 5th/21); Noah Ramirez (53-9.25, 10th)Zane Johnson PRs in the pole vault, placing 4th with a clearance of 15-9.75!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/6qIPwGUAHp
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
One of the most consistent things over the past four years has been thrower Brent Yeakey scoring in the shot put. In fact, in eight conference meets across indoor and outdoor, Yeakey has scored all eight times, including a fifth-place finish on Friday (56-1). The throw was a season best for Yeakey, who owns school records for both the indoor and outdoor shot put. Yeakey was strong all day, surpassing 54 feet on his first four throws.
Teammate Noah Ramirez also had a strong showing (53-9.25), coming up four inches shy of a lifetime best.In 4 outdoor seasons, Brent Yeakey has scored in the shot put all 4 times! Congrats, Brent, on a 5th place finish today (season-best 56-1).#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/940FcPIg3y
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Men's long jump – Jason Upton (23-6, 6th/17)
A season after Jason Upton came up painfully short of scoring, placing ninth in 2021, Jason Upton earned scoring points for the Griz, finishing sixth in the long jump (23-6). Upton fouled on his first two attempts, but hit 23-0 on his third to qualify for the finals, and improved to 23-6 – a lifetime best – on his next jump.
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase – Ellis McKean (9:11.33, 7th/22); Joel Mendez (9:16.24, 9th); AJ Eckmann (9:40.29, 18th)That's a PR for Jason Upton, who places 6th in the long jump with a mark of 23-6!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/cRk6TfXMZu
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
The hype entering the meet was for Joel Mendez, who was seeded fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. But it was his teammate, Ellis McKean, who scored, running a lifetime-best time of 9:11.33 to place seventh. Mendez came up 2 seconds shy of scoring, placing ninth.
Women's 100-meter hurdles (prelims) – Jansen Ziola (13.82q, 3rd/19); Ailsa Gilbert (14.31, 9th); Carlee Fryberger (14.52, 11th)
Less than 10 minutes after reaching the podium in the women's long jump, Jansen Ziola was already back on the track for her next event. The limited rest time didn't seem to faze the junior, coming within four-hundredths of a second of a PR (13.82) to qualify for Saturday's finals with the third-best time in the field. Teammate Ailsa Gilbert came up just shy of qualifying, finishing ninth.
Men's 110-meter hurdles (prelims) – Jaydon Green (14.45q, 4th/11)Literally minutes after reaching the podium in the long jump, Jansen Ziola (or Ziola Jansen 🙄) wins her 100-meter hurdles heat (13.83) to advance to tomorrow's finals!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/mudn4akbBF
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Jaydon Green missed the first month of the season due to injury but has come on strong over the past three weeks. He entered the week seeded 10th in the 110-meter hurdles, but ran a PR of two-tenths of a second to qualify for Saturday's finals with the fourth-best time in the field (14.45).
Men's 800 meters (prelims) – Quincy Fast (1:50.97q, 4th/24); Will Dauenhauer (1:55.76, 20th)A 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 PR (14.45) advances Jaydon Green to the finals of the 110-meter hurdles!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/424Bcb1Htx
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Sophomore Canadian Quincy Fast placed fifth in the 800 meters as a freshman in 2021, and will look to improve on that mark, currently in fourth place entering Saturday's finals. He had a fantastic race on Friday, finishing second in his heat, in a neck-and-neck race (1:50.97).
Women's 400-meter hurdles (prelims) – Holly Sudol (1:02.65q, 7th/20); Jansen Ziola (1:02.92q, 8th); Abby Harmon (1:04.98, 12th)A great performance by Quincy Fast sends the Canadian runner to the 800 meters finals (1:50.97)!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/DvnjfN0c2B
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
Montana was one of two schools to have two individuals qualify for the finals of the 400-meter hurdles. Holly Sudol placed seventh in the preliminary round (1:02.65), followed by Jansen Ziola (1:02.92), who also qualified for the finals of the 100-meter hurdles (and reached the podium in the long jump).
Men's 400 meters (prelims) – Paul Johnstone (48.84q, 8th/15); Jay Beagle (49.90, 13th)Both Holly Sudol (1:02.65) and Jansen Ziola (1:02.92) qualify for the finals of the women's 400-meter hurdles!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/H2ASoVcl32
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 13, 2022
A six-time scorer in his young career, Paul Johnstone will have the opportunity to add to that number after qualifying for the finals of the 400 meters (48.84).
Women's high jump – Morgan Radtke (5-1.75, 13th/16)
Morgan Radtke, who placed seventh in the heptathlon on Thursday and has scored multiple times in the high jump during her career, entered the week seeded fourth in the standalone high jump with a season-best jump of 5-7.25 just two weeks ago. She cleared 5-1.75 on her second attempt Friday, but missed all three jumps at 5-3.75, bowing out of the competition earlier than expected. It was unfortunate for Radtke, who earlier this week easily cleared 5-5.75 in the high-jump portion of the heptathlon.
Men's 100 meters (prelims) – Kip Krebsbach (10.66, 10th/20)
Men's 200 meters (prelims) – Kip Krebsbach (21.86, 9th/21); Paul Johnstone (22.00, 11th)
Kip Krebsbach had a day of almosts, narrowly missing qualification in both the 100 meters (10.66) and 200 meters (21.86).
Women's 200 meters (prelims) – Emma Normand (24.80, 12th); Catie Buck (25.03, 14th); Camryn Dezember (25.91, 22nd)
Emma Normand (24.80) and Camryn Dezember (25.91) ran lifetime-best times in the 200 meters, with Dezember doing so in her Championship debut.
Women's 800 meters (prelims) – Bridget Boyle (2:17.92, 14th/22); Katie Whitehurst (2:18.28, 16th)
Bridget Boyle (2:17.92) and Katie Whitehurst (2:18.28) also made their Championship debuts on Friday, running in the preliminary round of the 800 meters.
Looking ahead to Saturday
Saturday will mark the fourth and final day of the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will feature eight field events and 20 running finals. Action begins at 9:30 a.m. with the men's hammer throw (broadcast on Idaho State Athletics Facebook page). A complete schedule of events can be found online. Fans can also access live video of the meet on ESPN+ and track live results through FinishedResults.
Montana's Point-Scorers (Men)
10, Evan Todd, 1st, javelin
5, Zane Johnson, 4th, pole vault
4, Matthew Hockett, 5th, javelin
4, Brent Yeakey, 5th, shot put
3, Jason Upton, 6th, long jump
2, Ellis McKean, 7th, 3,000-meter steeplechase
Montana's Point-Scorers (Women)
10, Tanessa Morris, 1st, hammer
6, Jansen Ziola, 3rd, long jump
5, Kaitlyn Gallo, 4th, hammer
2, Morgan Radtke, 7th, heptathlon
Men's Team Standings
1. Montana State, 60
2. Weber State, 58
3. Idaho State, 39
4. Northern Arizona, 38
5. Montana, 28
6. Idaho, 19
7. Eastern Washington, 12
8. Southern Utah, 8
9. Sacramento State, 6
10. Northern Colorado, 5
Women's Team Standings
1. Northern Arizona, 55
2. Montana State, 39.5
3. Idaho State, 32.5
4. Sacramento State, 31.5
5. Southern Utah, 27
6. Weber State, 25
7. Montana, 23
8. Idaho, 21.5
9. Eastern Washington, 18




































