
3 more Grizzlies reach podium on final day of Big Sky Championships
5/14/2022 6:27:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
On the weekend, the Grizzlies reached the podium six times, including Ziola twice (also the long jump) and Tanessa Morris (hammer) and Evan Todd (javelin) winning individual Big Sky Conference titles.
Montana's men placed in the middle of the pack, in sixth place, with 58 points on the weekend, while the Griz women finished ninth, with 37.5 points. Ziola, who scored three times for 16 total points, scored nearly half of Montana's points on the women's side.
Northern Arizona dominated the meet, winning both the men's and women's championships by a wide margin.
Men's discus – Brent Yeakey (179-9, 3rd/24); Matt Ward (152-8, 12th); Colton Root (PR 138-2, 19th)
Brent Yeakey had four throws of at least 170 feet in the discus, but saved his best throw for his final one, marking 179-9 – just 12 inches shy of his own school record. The distance secured Yeakey a podium finish, just 3 inches shy of second place.
Yeakey will finish his Griz career as an 11-time scorer in the shot put and discus, reaching the podium in the discus in back-to-back seasons (he placed second in 2021). He owns school records for the shot put (indoor and outdoor) and discus (outdoor) and has qualified for NCAA Regionals in both events, with the chance to return in the discus in 2022 following Saturday's season-best performance.That's another 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗨𝗠 finish for Brent Yeakey, who places 3rd in the discus, just 1 foot off of his own school record (179-9)!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/7vyoIu3MVo
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
Men's 400 meters (finals) – Paul Johnstone (47.15, 3rd)
Being the final runner to qualify from Friday's preliminary race, it's fair to say that the attention was not on Paul Johnstone entering the finals of the 400 meters. It stayed that way for about 325 meters as Johnstone was consistently in seventh or eighth place. But coming around the final corner, and running in the inside lane, Johnstone went from out of the video frame to a third-place finish (47.15).
The time was a PR by nearly a full second, and 1.69 seconds better than his time on Friday. It marks his fourth career podium finish, but first for a standalone outdoor race (he placed second in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and has twice won the 4x400-meter relay). A season ago, Johnstone's twin brother, Cade, who is redshirting this spring, set a school record to win the men's 400 meters.There's something about Paul Johnstone and the homestretch. From out of the frame to a podium finish with an impressive time of 47.15!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/Sms2iC03wJ
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
Women's 100-meter hurdles (finals) – Jansen Ziola (PR 13.71, 3rd)
Saturday marked the ninth time in her career that Jansen Ziola has reached the podium, but the first time in the 100-meter hurdles. She ran a lifetime-best time of 13.71 to place third. The time was 11-hundredths of a second better than she ran on Friday, in the preliminary round.
Men's 110-meter hurdles (finals) – Jaydon Green (PR 14.38, 4th)Jansen Ziola reaches the podium for the second time this weekend, placing 3rd in the 100-meter hurdles with a lifetime-best run of 13.71!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/C9C5VHuDfx
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
One day after cutting two-tenths of a second off of his lifetime best in the 110-meter hurdles, on Saturday, Jaydon Green shaved off even more time, placing fourth with a time of 14.38. The time was 14-hundredths of a second off of a Montana school record, despite Green clipping several hurdles late after being among the leaders through the first half of the sprint.
Men's hammer – Matt Ward (PR 209-0, 4th/20); Noah Ramirez (162-2, 16th); Colton Root (153-2, 18th)Jaydon Green places 4th in the 110-meter hurdles, shaving off even more time from yesterday's PR. His time of 14.38 is just 0.14 off Montana's school record.#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/648jK3gDS8
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
Matt Ward fouled on five of his six throwing attempts, but his first throw – his only marked one – was good enough to earn him a fourth-place finish in the hammer as the sophomore from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho recorded a 3-foot PR.
In fact, with a throw of 209-0, Ward led the field through two rounds, before dropping to third after the preliminary throws and fourth in the finals. He was just 4 inches shy of reaching the podium, but spun out of the ring on many of his attempts, resulting in no marks.
Men's 800 meters (finals) – Quincy Fast (1:50.40, 5th)
Quincy Fast earned a fifth-place finish in the 800 meters with a solid time of 1:50.40. Fast held third place through the first 600 meters of the race, but over the final half-lap tried to make a push for second, but instead fell back to fourth and eventually fifth place. Third through sixth place were all within nine-hundredths of a second of each other.
Women's 400-meter hurdles (finals) – Jansen Ziola (PR 1:00.71, 5th); Holly Sudol (1:02.84, 8th)
Montana was one of just two schools to have two point-scorers in the 400-meter hurdles, led by Jansen Ziola, who finished fifth with a half-second PR of 1:00.71. Ziola was in seventh in the final straightaway before making a move over the final 100 meters. Teammate Holly Sudol finished eighth (1:02.84).
Women's javelin – Jaree Mane (PR 141-3, 8th/19); Sierrah Hardy (131-9, 13th); Autumn Morse (128-11, 17th); Kylie Frohlich (125-2, 19th)
Jaree Mane came into the week seeded just 18th in the javelin, but surprised many, recording a 10-foot PR on her third attempt on Saturday to qualify for the finals, and then improved that mark several more times to score in the event for the first time in her career. Her final four throws all went at least 137 feet, topped by a 141-3 on her fifth attempt.
Mane will now conclude her career as an eight-time scorer, in five different events, not to mention being this year's President's Award winner for the top GPA in the athletics department.
Women's pole vault – Shealyne McGee (PR 11-9, T-8th/15); Molly Chambers (11-3, 12th)She came in seeded 18th, never before throwing 130 feet.
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
She then did so four times, qualified for the finals and scored! Congrats, Jaree!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/feKvMLhWfX
A pair of Griz freshmen competed in the pole vault, with both Shealyne McGee and Molly Chambers clearing the initial height of 11-3. McGee then tied a PR at 11-9, passing on her first attempt, before bowing out of the competition tied for eighth place.
Men's 4x100-meter relay – A: Kip Krebsbach, Jason Upton, Cooper Hewett, Paul Johnstone (41.70, 7th/9)
Competing in the first section, against Idaho State, Montana led the Bengals for the first half of the race before falling behind late in the race. Then, the baton was handed off to Paul Johnstone, who chased down his competitor to win in impressive fashion, by eight-hundredths of a second. Montana's time of 41.70 was a season best and placed the Grizzlies seventh.
Men's 4x400-meter relay – A: Jay Beagle, Will Dauenhauer, Quincy Fast, Paul Johnstone (3:17.96)What an anchor leg from Paul Johnstone, who comes from behind to help Montana win its heat in the men's 4x100-meter relay!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ubQPfy4VuR
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
Montana ran a season-best race, by nearly 4 seconds no less, to finish seventh in the 4x400-meter relay, with Johnstone scoring for the third time on Saturday (also 400 meters and 4x100-meter hurdles).
Women's 4x100-meter relay – A: Emma Normand, Abby Harmon, Camryn Dezember, Catie Buck (47.91, 6th/10)
Women's 4x400-meter relay – A: Camryn Dezember, Katie Whitehurst, Abby Harmon, Holly Sudol (3:56.07, 9th/10)
Men's triple jump – Jason Upton (PR 44-5.5, 10th/11); Zane Johnson (43-9.25, 11th)
Jason Upton was Montana's top performer in the triple jump, recording a 4-inch PR at 44-5.5 to finish 10th.
Women's triple jump – Ailsa Gilbert (38-8.75, 13th/18); Morgan Radtke (36-7.5, 15th)
Ailsa Gilbert had a strong performance in the triple jump, getting within 9 inches of a PR on her first attempt (38-8.75), but it wasn't enough to advance, as she finished 13th in the field. Meanwhile, Morgan Radtke – known for her skills in the high jump and heptathlon – competed in the triple jump for the first time ever during outdoor, jumping 36-7.5 to finish 15th.
Men's 5,000 meters – Ben Vanderbosch (14:52.15, 16th/36); Nathan Carter (14:52.59, 17th); Jordan Hansen (14:52.98, 18th); Ellis McKean (PR 15:02.70, 22nd); AJ Eckmann (PR 15:44.22, 34th); Joel Mendez (DNF)Ailsa Gilbert has a strong first jump in the triple jump, marking 38-8.75!#GrizTF #BigSkyTF #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/G1eJ5o6zSG
— Montana Griz Track & Field (@MontanaGrizTF) May 14, 2022
The Grizzlies had three runners finish in the upper-half of the crowded 5,000-meters race, with all three breaking the 15-minute barrier. Two more runners recorded PRs.
Women's 5,000 meters – Olivia Lackland Henry (17:45.52, 15th/27); Beatrix Frissell (18:31.02, 20th)
Montana also had a pair of competitors in the women's 5,000 meters, with Olivia Lackland Henry pacing the Griz (17:45.52).
Women's shot put – Jaree Mane (39-6.5, 17th/22)
After having to step away from the heptathlon after just one event due to injury, Jaree Mane made her return to competition on Saturday, throwing 39-6.5 in the shot put. The distance was within a foot of a PR, but wasn't enough to move her to the finals.
Men's high jump – Alfred Peterson (NH)
A season after placing seventh in the high jump, Alfred Peterson was unable to clear the initial height of 6-2.25 on Saturday. It was uncharacteristic for the Dillon native, who has cleared 6-6.75 during his career, and just last week passed 6-4.75.
Women's 100 meters (finals) – Catie Buck (DNS)
After setting a school record in the 100 meters on Friday (11.80), Catie Buck was unfortunately unable to start on Saturday, leaving points on the table.
For more on the four-day meet, click here to read Friday's recap, which featured a school record and two individual titles.
Montana's Point-Scorers (Men)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
10, Evan Todd, 1st, javelin
6, Paul Johnstone, 3rd, 400 meters
6, Brent Yeakey, 3rd, discus
5, Jaydon Green, 4th, 110-meter hurdles
5, Zane Johnson, 4th, pole vault
5, Matt Ward, 4th, hammer
4, Quincy Fast, 5th, 800 meters
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
0.5, Jay Beagle, 7th, 4x400-meter relay
0.5, Will Dauenhauer, 7th, 4x400-meter relay
0.5, Quincy Fast, 7th, 4x400-meter relay
0.5, Cooper Hewett, 7th, 4x100-meter relay
0.5, Paul Johnstone, 7th, 4x100-meter relay
0.5, Paul Johnstone, 7th, 4x400-meter relay
0.5, Kip Krebsbach, 7th, 4x100-meter relay
0.5, Jason Upton, 7th, 4x100-meter relay
Montana's Point-Scorers (Women)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
10, Tanessa Morris, 1st, hammer
6, Jansen Ziola, 3rd, long jump
6, Jansen Ziola, 3rd, 100-meter hurdles
5, Kaitlyn Gallo, 4th, hammer
4, Jansen Ziola, 5th, 400-meter hurdles
2, Morgan Radtke, 7th, heptathlon
1, Jaree Mane, 8th, javelin
0.75, Catie Buck, 6th, 4x100-meter relay
0.75, Camryn Dezember, 6th, 4x100-meter relay
0.75, Abby Harmon, 6th, 4x100-meter relay
0.75, Emma Normand, 6th, 4x100-meter relay
0.5, Shealyne McGee, T-8th, javelin
Men's Team StandingsAnother 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
1. Northern Arizona, 185
2. Montana State, 119
3. Idaho, 100
4. Idaho State, 83
5. Weber State, 76
6. Montana, 58
7. Northern Colorado, 49
8. Southern Utah, 47.5
9. Sacramento State, 46.5
10. Eastern Washington, 42
11. Portland State, 11
Women's Team Standings
1. Northern Arizona, 244
2. Montana State, 125
3. Sacramento State, 82.5
4. Weber State, 67
5. Eastern Washington, 66
6. Idaho, 62
7. Idaho State, 59
8. Southern Utah, 42
9. Montana, 37.5
10. Northern Colorado, 33
🚨 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