Thursday, February 22
Spokane, Wash.
Montana
vs
Big Sky Indoor Championships
Hewett claims 60m crown, Griz men finish 5th
2/24/2024 5:58:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
The Montana track and field team brought the indoor season to a close on Saturday at The Podium in Spokane. The Grizzlies picked up another Big Sky title on Saturday and added an All-Conference performance as well as the men greatly exceeded the preseason expectations.
The Grizzlies finished with 56 points to finish in fifth place. The women placed ninth with 30 total points. Both teams were picked eighth in the preseason polls.
It's the highest finish for the Montana men at the Big Sky indoor meet since a runner-up finish back in 2017. The 56 points are also the third-most they've scored at a Big Sky Indoor Championship since 2014.
"I'm really happy with the progress the men have made since last year," head coach Doug Fraley said. "Especially being picked to finish eighth in the league and to up that to fifth put us in the top half of the league. I feel like things are moving in the right direction."
The women had six individual point scorers and closed the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The men had nine different point scorers, added points in the distance medley relay and ended the meet on the podium with a third-place finish in the 4x400m relay.
Montana end the Big Sky Indoor Championships with two individual champions and four other All-Conference finishers.
Click here for a recap from the first two days.
HEWETT TAKES THE CROWN
Cooper Hewett had been waiting for a moment like this. The Grizzly senior has been through some highs in his career, but also some deep lows. Last year, he ran just two indoor meets because of injuries. He qualified for the 100m and 200m finals in the outdoor Big Sky Championships, but wasn't able to run the final day because of an injury flare-up.
On Friday evening in Spokane, he took to the track for just the second time this year. He competed in the season opening event on Dec. 7, but once again injuries forced him to the sideline for much of the regular season.
In his first race back, Hewett blew away all expectations. He flew down the 60 meters to win his heat and break a 26-year old Montana school record. But as he came to a stop against the padded wall inside The Podium, there was frustration on his face. He punched the padded wall, limping away. Instead of celebrating a record, he was once again worried about his hamstring.
Hewett missed the 200m later on Friday, hoping to stay as fresh as he could for a potential final on Saturday.
The injury didn't keep him out of the race. And if it slowed him down at all, that just makes his run on Saturday even more impressive. Hewett burst out of the blocks in the lead and held off Northern Colorado's Jerome Campbell to win the men's 60-meter dash.
"He's been an athlete that we've been, we believed in his ability, and have been waiting for him to hit that in a championship race," Fraley said. "He was really determined this morning that he was going to go out and win that race. He said right before the start that he felt like he was going to win this thing."
He becomes Montana's first Big Sky Champion in the event since Todd Hering won in 1998. He matched his prelim time of 6.72 seconds, which also breaks Hering's school record set during that 1998 season.
"He was able to do it against a really, really good men's sprint field," Fraley said. "It was awesome. It's been a long time, so it's a big achievement."
KREMER MAKES ALL-CONFERENCE
Saturday got off to a great start for Montana with the men's high jump competition. Patrick Kremer entered the event as one of the favorites and he lived up to his seeding. The sophomore matched his career best by clearing 6-8.75 to finish second overall and claim All-Conference honors.
Kremer needed a third jump at 6-7.5, but was able to move past the mark and then hit on his second jump at 6-8.75. He gave 6-9.75 two attempts before passing and taking his final attempt at 6-11 as he looked to go past Sacramento State's Miles Grant.
He couldn't make the final jump, but still reached the podium with an outstanding effort.
"He's been so solid every meet this season and today was no different," Fraley said. "He held that second place seed, made the podium, got the silver medal, and really pushed the winner. He's had a really good and consistent indoor season and I'm looking forward to seeing what it will lead to outdoors."
Freshman Zachary Travis also scored for the Griz, finishing sixth overall with a jump of 6-5.5. The Grizzlies had four total point scorers between the men's and women's high jump after Erin Wilde won the women's competition on Friday.
UPTON CAPS AN OUTSTANDING MEET
Jason Upton was Montana's top point scorer at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, scoring in all three events that he entered. Upton started his scoring with his second-place finish in the long jump on Friday, and had a pair of finals on Saturday to add to his total.
Upton reached the 60m finals after running a 6.80 in the prelims, which would have broken the previous school record entering the week. He added a point in the finals with an eighth-place finish in what was his final event of the meet.
Earlier on Saturday, Upton also competed in the triple jump and added two points there. He was able to do so with just a single jump, as he set a new PR of 45-5.75 in his first attempt and passed on the following five jumps to save energy.
The all-around athlete ends his meet with 11 points over three events and an All-Conference honor in the long jump.
REVIEW OF THE REST
The Grizzlies ended the meet on a very high note as the men's 4x400-meter relay team earned All-Conference honors with a third-place finish in the event. Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Xavier Melice, and Taylor Johnson combined for a time of 3:12.84.
The time nearly broke a 40-year old school record at Montana. The current record is 3:12.19, which has stood since the 1984 season.
The women's 4x400 team of Claire Hutchison, Mikenna Ells, Katie Whitehurst, and Lily Meskers finished fifth overall with a time of 3:48.02.
"The women did a good job running a season best to place fifth," Fraley said. "The guys were fantastic. They came in seeded fourth and were able to beat a really good NAU team. To run basically a two-second season best at the end of that conference meet is something we're proud of. I'm glad those guys were able to make the podium and get rewarded for their efforts."
Ariel Clark also brought her tremendous senior season to a close with another great performance in the women's weight throw. Clark has been consistent all season long, winning four meets and throwing between 56 and 58 feet every time out.
She matched that consistency on Saturday, but the bright lights of the conference championship brought a little bit extra out of her. Clark recorded a new PR with a throw of 58-7.5 and placed fourth overall in the event.
Zimmerman upped it on Saturday, clearing 12-11 to place fifth in the event.
"For both men and women, it was probably the toughest pole vault competition there has ever been at the Big Sky Championships," Fraley said. "The event is getting really good league-wide and today Emma really stepped it up and hit another big PR to place fifth, which was higher than her seed. It was an excellent performance."
The Grizzlies had a couple of runners compete in finals as Xavier Melice set a PR for the second straight day with a 48.25 400m time to score a point. Freshman Jayel Dovichak ran an 8.77 second time in the 60-meter hurdles to score in her first Big Sky meet.
The distance trio of Lane Cole, Cooper Morris, and Truman Thompson all set new PRs in the mile, an event that was top-heavy with the No. 1 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks dominating. Iris McKean had a PR time in the women's 3,000
Montana now prepares for the outdoor season, which will kick off in just a few weeks in Sacramento. The Grizzlies will be in action the twice in March, including a home meet on the 22nd and 23rd. The indoor season, and many Grizzly indoor careers, ended on a high note in Spokane.
"The upperclassmen really did a good job in this championship. It's a big reason we moved up this indoor season because they were really together and motivated and focused on us getting into the top half of the league in the indoor standings.
"We're really looking forward to the outdoor season based on the progress we've made inside. It's going to be fun. We get to throw the javelin and the 400-meter hurdles into the mix, events that we are really strong in on both the men's and the women's side. We're looking forward to digesting this and then starting the whole process over with the new outdoor season."
Women's Results
60mH- Jayel Dovichak (8.77, 8th)
3,000m- Iris McKean (10:18.11*, 21st), Kayla Ingraham (10:32.66, 24th)
4x400m- Hutchison, Ells, Whitehurst, Meskers (3:48.02, 5th)
Pole Vault- Emma Zimmerman (12-11*, 5th), Shealyne McGee (12-7.25, 9th), Molly Chambers (12-1.25*, 12th), Chesnee Lawrence (11-7.25, 15th)
Triple Jump- Ailsa Gilbert (26-2, 14th), Ainsley Shipman (35-1.25, 16th)
Weight Throw- Ariel Clark (58-7.5*, 4th), Savana Ramirez (53-9.75, 9th)
Men's Results
60m- Cooper Hewett (6.72*^, 1st), Jason Upton (8.93, 8th)
400m- Xavier Melice (48.25*, 8th)
4x400m- Beagle, Ferguson, Melice, Johnson (3:12.84, 3rd)
Mile- Lane Cole (4:11.32*, 13th), Cooper Morris (4:15.67*, 15th), Truman Thompson (4:18.29*, 18th)
High Jump- Patrick Kremer (6-8.75, 2nd), Zachary Travis (6-5.5, 6th), Adam Maxwell (6-3.5, 10th)
Triple Jump- Jason Upton (45-5.75*, 7th), Zane Johnson (45-0.25, 9th), Dylan Zink (36-3, 12th)
*denotes PR
^denotes school record
Men's Point Scorers
Jason Upton, 11 – Long Jump (8), Triple Jump (2), 60m (1)
Cooper Hewett, 10 – 60m
Patrick Kremer, 8 – High Jump
4x400m relay, 6
Zane Johnson, 6 – Pole Vault
Jethro Thorne, 3 – Long Jump
Carson Weeden, 3 – Pole Vault
Zachary Travis, 3 – High Jump
DMR, 3
Gordon McMillion, 2 – Long Jump
Xavier Melice, 1 – 400m
Women's Point Scorers
Erin Wilde, 10 – High Jump
Brooke Stayner, 5 – Pentathlon (3), High Jump (2)
Ariel Clark, 5 – Weight Throw
Emma Zimmerman, 4 – Pole Vault
4x400m relay, 4
Cathlene Van Zyl, 1 – Shot Put
Jayel Dovichak, 1 – 60mH
Men's Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona, 190
2. Montana State, 119
3. Idaho, 69
4. Weber State, 65.5
5. Montana, 56
6. Idaho State, 48
7. Sacramento State, 40
8. Northern Colorado, 38
9. Eastern Washington, 32.5
10. Portland State, 5
Women's Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona, 204
2. Montana State, 107
3. Idaho State, 69
4. Idaho, 64
5. Sacramento State, 57
6. Eastern Washington, 48
7. Weber State, 43
8. Northern Colorado, 40
9. Montana, 30
10. Portland State, 1
The Grizzlies finished with 56 points to finish in fifth place. The women placed ninth with 30 total points. Both teams were picked eighth in the preseason polls.
It's the highest finish for the Montana men at the Big Sky indoor meet since a runner-up finish back in 2017. The 56 points are also the third-most they've scored at a Big Sky Indoor Championship since 2014.
"I'm really happy with the progress the men have made since last year," head coach Doug Fraley said. "Especially being picked to finish eighth in the league and to up that to fifth put us in the top half of the league. I feel like things are moving in the right direction."
The women had six individual point scorers and closed the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay. The men had nine different point scorers, added points in the distance medley relay and ended the meet on the podium with a third-place finish in the 4x400m relay.
Montana end the Big Sky Indoor Championships with two individual champions and four other All-Conference finishers.
Click here for a recap from the first two days.
HEWETT TAKES THE CROWN
Cooper Hewett had been waiting for a moment like this. The Grizzly senior has been through some highs in his career, but also some deep lows. Last year, he ran just two indoor meets because of injuries. He qualified for the 100m and 200m finals in the outdoor Big Sky Championships, but wasn't able to run the final day because of an injury flare-up.
On Friday evening in Spokane, he took to the track for just the second time this year. He competed in the season opening event on Dec. 7, but once again injuries forced him to the sideline for much of the regular season.
In his first race back, Hewett blew away all expectations. He flew down the 60 meters to win his heat and break a 26-year old Montana school record. But as he came to a stop against the padded wall inside The Podium, there was frustration on his face. He punched the padded wall, limping away. Instead of celebrating a record, he was once again worried about his hamstring.
Hewett missed the 200m later on Friday, hoping to stay as fresh as he could for a potential final on Saturday.
The injury didn't keep him out of the race. And if it slowed him down at all, that just makes his run on Saturday even more impressive. Hewett burst out of the blocks in the lead and held off Northern Colorado's Jerome Campbell to win the men's 60-meter dash.
"He's been an athlete that we've been, we believed in his ability, and have been waiting for him to hit that in a championship race," Fraley said. "He was really determined this morning that he was going to go out and win that race. He said right before the start that he felt like he was going to win this thing."
He becomes Montana's first Big Sky Champion in the event since Todd Hering won in 1998. He matched his prelim time of 6.72 seconds, which also breaks Hering's school record set during that 1998 season.
"He was able to do it against a really, really good men's sprint field," Fraley said. "It was awesome. It's been a long time, so it's a big achievement."
𝑩𝑰𝑮 𝑺𝑲𝒀 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑰𝑶𝑵!
— Montana Griz TF & XC (@MontanaGrizTFXC) February 24, 2024
Cooper Hewett matches his own 60m school record from yesterday's prelims to become Montana's first Big Sky champion in the event since Todd Hering in 1998!#GrizTF | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/Qc0OULOCY4
KREMER MAKES ALL-CONFERENCE
Saturday got off to a great start for Montana with the men's high jump competition. Patrick Kremer entered the event as one of the favorites and he lived up to his seeding. The sophomore matched his career best by clearing 6-8.75 to finish second overall and claim All-Conference honors.
Kremer needed a third jump at 6-7.5, but was able to move past the mark and then hit on his second jump at 6-8.75. He gave 6-9.75 two attempts before passing and taking his final attempt at 6-11 as he looked to go past Sacramento State's Miles Grant.
He couldn't make the final jump, but still reached the podium with an outstanding effort.
"He's been so solid every meet this season and today was no different," Fraley said. "He held that second place seed, made the podium, got the silver medal, and really pushed the winner. He's had a really good and consistent indoor season and I'm looking forward to seeing what it will lead to outdoors."
Freshman Zachary Travis also scored for the Griz, finishing sixth overall with a jump of 6-5.5. The Grizzlies had four total point scorers between the men's and women's high jump after Erin Wilde won the women's competition on Friday.
It's an 𝑨𝑳𝑳-𝑩𝑰𝑮 𝑺𝑲𝒀 start to Saturday's action, courtesy of Patrick Kremer!
— Montana Griz TF & XC (@MontanaGrizTFXC) February 24, 2024
He finishes second in the high jump with a mark of 6-8.75. #GrizTF | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/yq2P0hwMyp
UPTON CAPS AN OUTSTANDING MEET
Jason Upton was Montana's top point scorer at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, scoring in all three events that he entered. Upton started his scoring with his second-place finish in the long jump on Friday, and had a pair of finals on Saturday to add to his total.
Upton reached the 60m finals after running a 6.80 in the prelims, which would have broken the previous school record entering the week. He added a point in the finals with an eighth-place finish in what was his final event of the meet.
Earlier on Saturday, Upton also competed in the triple jump and added two points there. He was able to do so with just a single jump, as he set a new PR of 45-5.75 in his first attempt and passed on the following five jumps to save energy.
The all-around athlete ends his meet with 11 points over three events and an All-Conference honor in the long jump.
REVIEW OF THE REST
The Grizzlies ended the meet on a very high note as the men's 4x400-meter relay team earned All-Conference honors with a third-place finish in the event. Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Xavier Melice, and Taylor Johnson combined for a time of 3:12.84.
The time nearly broke a 40-year old school record at Montana. The current record is 3:12.19, which has stood since the 1984 season.
The women's 4x400 team of Claire Hutchison, Mikenna Ells, Katie Whitehurst, and Lily Meskers finished fifth overall with a time of 3:48.02.
"The women did a good job running a season best to place fifth," Fraley said. "The guys were fantastic. They came in seeded fourth and were able to beat a really good NAU team. To run basically a two-second season best at the end of that conference meet is something we're proud of. I'm glad those guys were able to make the podium and get rewarded for their efforts."
Ariel Clark also brought her tremendous senior season to a close with another great performance in the women's weight throw. Clark has been consistent all season long, winning four meets and throwing between 56 and 58 feet every time out.
She matched that consistency on Saturday, but the bright lights of the conference championship brought a little bit extra out of her. Clark recorded a new PR with a throw of 58-7.5 and placed fourth overall in the event.
"Ariel did what she's been doing the entire indoor season throwing in the mid to high 17-meter range," Fraley said. "When you're able to do that at a championship meet and get a little bit fired up, you can hit a PR and get fourth. She was not far at all from the podium and I know she will be really motivated as we move outside."
Emma Zimmerman led a strong showing in the women's pole vault for Montana. She has improved all season long, breaking 12-feet in late January and then ending the regular season with her personal best height of 12-8.75.Zimmerman upped it on Saturday, clearing 12-11 to place fifth in the event.
"For both men and women, it was probably the toughest pole vault competition there has ever been at the Big Sky Championships," Fraley said. "The event is getting really good league-wide and today Emma really stepped it up and hit another big PR to place fifth, which was higher than her seed. It was an excellent performance."
Emma Zimmerman with a new PR in the pole vault by clearing 12-11 on her second attempt!#GrizTF | #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/NCuPZ3UIAk
— Montana Griz TF & XC (@MontanaGrizTFXC) February 24, 2024
The Grizzlies had a couple of runners compete in finals as Xavier Melice set a PR for the second straight day with a 48.25 400m time to score a point. Freshman Jayel Dovichak ran an 8.77 second time in the 60-meter hurdles to score in her first Big Sky meet.
The distance trio of Lane Cole, Cooper Morris, and Truman Thompson all set new PRs in the mile, an event that was top-heavy with the No. 1 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks dominating. Iris McKean had a PR time in the women's 3,000
Montana now prepares for the outdoor season, which will kick off in just a few weeks in Sacramento. The Grizzlies will be in action the twice in March, including a home meet on the 22nd and 23rd. The indoor season, and many Grizzly indoor careers, ended on a high note in Spokane.
"The upperclassmen really did a good job in this championship. It's a big reason we moved up this indoor season because they were really together and motivated and focused on us getting into the top half of the league in the indoor standings.
"We're really looking forward to the outdoor season based on the progress we've made inside. It's going to be fun. We get to throw the javelin and the 400-meter hurdles into the mix, events that we are really strong in on both the men's and the women's side. We're looking forward to digesting this and then starting the whole process over with the new outdoor season."
Women's Results
60mH- Jayel Dovichak (8.77, 8th)
3,000m- Iris McKean (10:18.11*, 21st), Kayla Ingraham (10:32.66, 24th)
4x400m- Hutchison, Ells, Whitehurst, Meskers (3:48.02, 5th)
Pole Vault- Emma Zimmerman (12-11*, 5th), Shealyne McGee (12-7.25, 9th), Molly Chambers (12-1.25*, 12th), Chesnee Lawrence (11-7.25, 15th)
Triple Jump- Ailsa Gilbert (26-2, 14th), Ainsley Shipman (35-1.25, 16th)
Weight Throw- Ariel Clark (58-7.5*, 4th), Savana Ramirez (53-9.75, 9th)
Men's Results
60m- Cooper Hewett (6.72*^, 1st), Jason Upton (8.93, 8th)
400m- Xavier Melice (48.25*, 8th)
4x400m- Beagle, Ferguson, Melice, Johnson (3:12.84, 3rd)
Mile- Lane Cole (4:11.32*, 13th), Cooper Morris (4:15.67*, 15th), Truman Thompson (4:18.29*, 18th)
High Jump- Patrick Kremer (6-8.75, 2nd), Zachary Travis (6-5.5, 6th), Adam Maxwell (6-3.5, 10th)
Triple Jump- Jason Upton (45-5.75*, 7th), Zane Johnson (45-0.25, 9th), Dylan Zink (36-3, 12th)
*denotes PR
^denotes school record
Men's Point Scorers
Jason Upton, 11 – Long Jump (8), Triple Jump (2), 60m (1)
Cooper Hewett, 10 – 60m
Patrick Kremer, 8 – High Jump
4x400m relay, 6
Zane Johnson, 6 – Pole Vault
Jethro Thorne, 3 – Long Jump
Carson Weeden, 3 – Pole Vault
Zachary Travis, 3 – High Jump
DMR, 3
Gordon McMillion, 2 – Long Jump
Xavier Melice, 1 – 400m
Women's Point Scorers
Erin Wilde, 10 – High Jump
Brooke Stayner, 5 – Pentathlon (3), High Jump (2)
Ariel Clark, 5 – Weight Throw
Emma Zimmerman, 4 – Pole Vault
4x400m relay, 4
Cathlene Van Zyl, 1 – Shot Put
Jayel Dovichak, 1 – 60mH
Men's Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona, 190
2. Montana State, 119
3. Idaho, 69
4. Weber State, 65.5
5. Montana, 56
6. Idaho State, 48
7. Sacramento State, 40
8. Northern Colorado, 38
9. Eastern Washington, 32.5
10. Portland State, 5
Women's Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona, 204
2. Montana State, 107
3. Idaho State, 69
4. Idaho, 64
5. Sacramento State, 57
6. Eastern Washington, 48
7. Weber State, 43
8. Northern Colorado, 40
9. Montana, 30
10. Portland State, 1
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi-events/Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
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