Montana start well at Spokane Indoor Challenge

Friday, January 12

Spokane, Wash.

Montana

Spokane Indoor Challenge

Photo by: Torrey Vail

1/13/2024 6:24:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Grizzly track and field team shook off the rust of a long winter break and got back into the swing of indoor season with the Spokane Indoor Challenge this weekend. Montana had a good all-around performance in their first action in over a month, winning three men's events and two women's while showing plenty of depth along the way.

For second-year head coach Doug Fraley, the first meet of 2024 exceeded expectations.

"We got a lot of what we expected out of our upperclassmen and then had some pleasant surprises out of some newcomers that really took advantage of the opportunity that we gave them this weekend," Fraley said. "It felt like we got solid performances on both ends of the spectrum in regards to upperclassmen and rookies, so that was great."

Fraley said before the meet that he was looking for his veterans to carry the torch for his team with good performances. They certainly did that.

Senior Ariel Clark had one of two event wins on the women's side with a career performance in the weight throw. Clark's PR of 56-2.5 was the best throw of the 28 competitors by over three feet. Savana Ramirez finished third in the event with a throw of 52-3.25.

Erin Wilde, who is just a sophomore but as the defending Big Sky Outdoor champion in the high jump is among the leaders of the team, had a solid performance in her specialty. Wilde won the high jump with a season-best mark of 5-7.25.

"It was great to get the event wins," Fraley said. "It's a good level of competition here and any time you can get event wins, you don't take them for granted because they don't come easy in college athletics. We were very pleased with that."

Jason Upton, another veteran for Montana, had a spectacular day in a couple of events. He started by winning the long jump with a leap of 23-0 to top the 25-man field. He then followed that up with a new PR in the 60m with a time of 6.94 and another PR with a 22.20 200m time.

He followed fellow Grizzly Teagun Holycross, who was third in the event with a time of 6.87. Holycross led the sprint group on the day, also finishing third in the 200m with a time of 21.75.

In a longer distance, Casey Crouch finished top-three in the men's 800 with a 1:55.74 time. Sophomore Taylor Johnson had the best 400m time for the Griz at 48.52, a new PR that was good for fourth-place in the event.

Lily Meskers had the top finish for the women's sprinters with a 57.76 400m that was good for fifth. Tara Ohlwiler set a new PR in the 200 to finish 10^th, while Mikenna Ells' 14^th place finish was the top run in the 60m.

In the women's 60-meter hurdles, freshman Jayel Dovichak set a new PR in the prelims with a run of 8.77 to qualify for the finals with the fourth-best time. She would fall to eighth in the final race, but it was still a great start for the freshman.

In men's pole vault, Montana placed six athletes inside the top 10. Kevin Swindler and Zane Johnson led with a mark of 16-0.75, and three other Grizzlies set new PRs in the event.

The distance runners ran well and three mile runners set new PRs on the men's side. Maxwell Scott finished fourth in the 3,000m for the men, while Iris McKean and Kayla Ingraham both had top five finishes in the women's 3,000m.

If there were any concerns that Montana lost fitness over the break, they were put to rest in Spokane.

"We feel like the vast majority of our young men and women came back in excellent shape and because of that they were able to execute well this weekend," Fraley said. "We were expecting that, but when it comes to fruition and they come back in good shape and have been taking care of business at home or on vacation, it makes you feel good about the culture of the team and the direction that we are heading as we progress through the indoor season."

The Griz had some great Friday night performances as well. Patrick Kremer set a new PR in the high jump by clearing 6-8.75, which won the event for the sophomore. Wilde completed the sweep of the high jump with a women's victory on Saturday in an event that should be a strength for the Griz.

The men got another win in the distance medley relay with a team of Henry Ballinger, Karsen Beitz, Truman Thompson, and Cooper Morris.

Overall, Montana took a good first step into the indoor season. They will return to action next weekend in Moscow for the Lauren McCluskey Memorial meet.

"I just thought it was a good move for weekend one and we're looking forward to getting back to work on Monday and then heading for Moscow next weekend," Fraley said. "All in all, way more positive than not and it's great to be back in track season."

Women's Results
60m- Mikenna Ells (7.79, 14^th/23), Tara Ohlwiler (7.98, 21^st), Audrey Smith (8.01, 22^nd), Rileigh McGree (7.99*, 17^th)
200m- Tara Ohlwiler (25.32*, 10^th/50), Mikenna Ells (25.34, 11^th), Claire Hutchison (25.65, 13^th), Cosley Bruno (25.71*, 14^th), Jayel Dovichak (25.91, 18^th), Audrey Smith (26.12, 23^rd)
400m- Lily Meskers (57.76, 5^th)
800m- Katie Whitehurst (2:15.18, 5^th/32), Mackenzie Morgan (2:19.15, 12^th), MacKenzie Dean (2:25.33, 20^th)
3,000m- Iris McKean (10:32.40, 4^th/12), Kayla Ingraham (10:52.80, 5^th)
60mH- Jayel Dovichak (8.90, 8^th) Brooke Stayner (9.03, 13^th), Whitney Morrison (9.15, 15^th), Ailsa Gilbert (9.18, 17^th), Ainsley Shipman (9.60, 25^th)
4x400m- Bruno, Ells, Hutchison, Meskers (3:48.75, 2^nd), Stayner, Morrison, Whitehurst, Dovichak (3:54.89, 5^th)
Distance Medley Relay- Morgan, Bruno, Dean, McKean (12:32.38, 3^rd)
Long Jump- Ainsley Shipman (17-2.75, 8^th/34), Rileigh McGree (16-4.25, 16^th), Perry Paffhausen (15-11, 22^nd), Kara Mattson (15-11, 23^rd)
Triple Jump- Ainsley Shipman (37-4.25 (7^th/18)
High Jump- Erin Wilde (5-7.25, 1^st/18), Brooke Stayner (5-1.25, 8^th), Whitney Morrison (5-1.25*, 12^th)
Pole Vault- Molly Chambers (11-5.75, 6^th/18), Emma Zimmerman (11-5.75, 8^th), Hannah Moses (10-11.75, 11^th), Chesney Lawrence (10-11.75, 13^th)
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl (40-4.75, 6^th/29), Ariel Clark (39-5.25, 9^th), Morgan Thomas (36-4.25, 12^th)
Weight Throw- Ariel Clark (56-2.5*, 1^st/28), Savana Ramirez (52-3.25, 3^rd), Mary Mickelson (43-9.75*, 14^th), Molly O'Dell (40-11.75*, 18^th), Cathlete Van Zyl (36-1.5, 24^th)

Men's Results
60m- Teagun Holycross (6.87, 3^nd/37), Jason Upton (6.94*) Porter Coffield (7.25, 22^nd)
200m- Teagun Holycross (21.75, 3^rd/21), Karsen Beitz (22.20, 5^th), Jason Upton (22.20*, 6^th)
400m- Taylor Johnson (48.52*, 4^th/21), Jay Beagle (49.98, 8^th), Ty Ferguson (50.09, 9^th), Cutter Thatcher (51.25, 13^th)
800m- Casey Crouch (1:55.74, 3^rd/12)
Mile- Lane Cole (4:16.26*, 2^nd), Henry Ballinger (4:17.17*, 3^rd), Cooper Morris (4:19.66*, 4^th), Truman Thompson (4:24.10, 6^th)
3,000m- Maxwell Scott (8:25.13, 4^th/27)
4x400m- Beagle, Ferguson, Crouch, Johnson (3:17.65, 3^rd), Thatcher, Ballinger, Morris, Coffield (3:27.14, 4^th)
Distance Medley Relay- Ballinger, Beitz, Thompson, Morris (10:12.08, 1^st)
Long Jump- Jason Upton (23-0, 1^st/25), Patrick Kremer (22-5.25*, 2^nd), Gordon McMillion (21-11.75, 5^th), Jethro Thorne (21-10.75, 7^th)
Triple Jump- Dylan Zink (43-8, 4^th/12)
High Jump- Patrick Kremer (6-8.75*, 1^st/9), Zachary Travis (6-6.75*, 3^rd), Porter Coffield (5-8.75, 8^th)
Pole Vault- Kevin Swindler (16-0.75, 2^nd/21), Zane Johnson (16-0.75, 3^rd), Jackson Merrill (15-7*, 7^th), Carter Petersen (15-7*, 8^th), Carson Hegele (15-7*, 8^th), Carson Weeden (15-7, 10^th)
Shot Put- Alex Shields (46-8.75, 5^th/30), Wade Rykal (45-9.75, 6^th), Porter Coffield (34-6.25, 21^st)
Weight Throw- Walker McDonald (51-11, 2^nd/9), Alex Shields (45-3, 3^rd), Wade Rykal (43-10, 4^th)