Friday, April 26
Pocatello, Idaho
Montana
at
Bengal Invitational
Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Montana
Griz head to Pocatello for Bengal Invitational
4/25/2024 12:57:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
The regular season is coming to an end for the Montana track and field team, which heads to Pocatello this weekend for the Bengal Invitational. The two-day meet, hosted by Idaho State, will serve as the final tune-up for many of Montana's athletes that will compete in the Big Sky Championships beginning on May 8.
Â
The meet opens Friday afternoon at 2:30 with four field events, while prelims in the running events open at 3:00 p.m. The finals will be held on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. The meet will be streamed on ESPN+ with live results on Athletic Live.
Â
Montana will compete alongside athletes from host Idaho State and Montana State as well as some of the top D-II schools in the area.
Â
The format makes it a great precursor to the Big Sky meet. Montana will hope to get as many athletes as possibly through Friday's prelims, giving them the chance to run back-to-back days.
Â
"It's a good format for us because in the sprint and hurdle races they run prelims on Friday and finals on Saturday. With the good level of competition that's going to be there, it's a good experience for our kids to hone in on making that final. If they do, coming back and running those races the next day just like they would at the conference meet is a really good dress rehearsal two weeks out."
Â
If the Grizzlies can do that in Bozeman in a few weeks, it will mean points on the board.
Â
There will be plenty of drama in the field events as well, which have been a strength for Montana this year. The highlight of the season so far for the Grizzlies came last week at the Montana Open when Evan Todd broke the javelin school record.
Â
Todd's throw of 234-5 currently has the two-time Big Sky Champion ranked fourth in the league and 15th in the West Qualifying Region. He's a lock to reach the NCAA First Round, but is still looking to add distance before he attempts to defend his crown.
Â
Zane Johnson in the men's pole vault is also holding strong to a regional spot, currently ranked 34th with a mark of 16-11. He's also chasing new heights, which would likely mean a new school record as well. Johnson is narrowly behind Keith Webber's 2014 record of 17-2.75, and would all but guarantee a repeat trip to the West Regional if he's able to hit that mark.
Â
There's a third Grizzly on the regional bubble, and Jason Upton is also closing in on a potential school record. Upton currently has a best mark of 24-8.5 in the long jump, which ranks 41st in the region, second in the Big Sky, and is within four inches of a school record.
Â
It wouldn't be the first school record this year for Upton, who ran a leg on the 4x100m relay team that broke a 55-year old record earlier this season at the Al Manuel Invitational. The group will run once again in Pocatello, and have their eyes set on a sub 40-second time.
Â
"The level of competition and a good venue like Pocatello makes it a good opportunity for those kids that are on the regional bubble to try to push through and get that next bar or better time," Fraley said.
Â
On the women's side, Erin Wilde has been a model of consistency in the high jump by clearing at least 5-7 at four straight meets. Her best mark (5-8) has her leading the Big Sky conference as she looks to win her third straight Big Sky title across indoor and outdoor.
Â
She is in a regional qualifying spot right now at 44th, but may need to bump her best mark up slightly to guarantee a trip to Fayetteville, Ark. In late May for the NCAA West First Round. The Montana school record is 5-10, set by Cathy Schwend in 1994.
Â
Ariel Clark also enters the home stretch of the season on the regional bubble in the women's hammer throw. Clark is 46th in the region with a mark of 189-7.
Â
This weekend will be a great opportunity for Clark and teammate Savana Ramirez. The Grizzlies are currently ranked 3-4 in the Big Sky this season. This weekend's meet will feature four of the five best in the Big Sky in the event, including second-place Sarah Wilensky of Idaho State. Â
Â
"It's a good test for them and again, up against some of the better competition in the conference. To be able to get in and do that two weeks before the real show is a big benefit," Fraley said. "You know that way that you've either proven yourself, or if you have a bad meet you've got two weeks to learn and correct those things."
Â
Montana has plenty of other athletes that are within striking distance of scoring at the Big Sky Championships in Bozeman. For most, this will be their last chance to lay down a good time and either remain inside or move into the top 8 in the league's performance list.
Â
The Grizzlies will close the regular season next week with the Tom Gage Classic on May 4 at Dornblaser Field. The Big Sky Championships will be held May 8-11 in Bozeman.
Â
Montana Men's Entries
100m- Teagun Holycross, Karsen Beitz, Jason Upton
200m- Teagun Holycross, Xavier Melice, Karsen Beitz, Easton Brotherson
400m- Taylor Johnson, Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Garrett Dahlke
800m- Henry Ballinger, Truman Thompson, Casey Crouch, Michael Jump, Colin Shaules
1,500m- Henry Ballinger, Lane Cole, Truman Thompson, Maxwell Scott, Colin Shaules
5,000m- Maxwell Scott, Lane Cole, Zachary Giesch
110mH- Jaydon Green, Easton Brotherson
400mH- Adam Maxwell
Steeple- Carson Steckelberg
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- Two squads
High Jump- Patrick Kremer, Zachary Travis, Adam Maxwell
Pole Vault- Zane Johnson, Kevin Swindler, Carson Hegele, Carter Petersen, Jackson Merrill
Long Jump- Jason Upton, Jethro Thorne, Gordon McMillion, Patrick Kremer
Triple Jump- Dylan Zink
Shot Put- Alex Shields, Wade Rykal, Memphis Black, Porter Coffield
Discus- Walker McDonald, Porter Coffield
Hammer- Walker McDonald, Wade Rykal, Alex Shields, Memphis Black
Javelin- Evan Todd, Everett Fred, Porter Coffield
Â
Montana Women's Entries
100m- Lily Meskers, Audrey Smith, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Destiny Santiago
200m- Lily Meskers, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Cosley Bruno, Destiny Santiago, Ainsley Shipman
400m- Mikenna Ells, Cosley Bruno
800m- Katie Whitehurst, Mackenzie Morgan, MacKenzie Dean, Layne Lathrop, Jaylyn Hallgrimson
1,500m- Jaylyn Hallgrimson, Mackenzie Morgan, Iris McKean, Jade Hallgrimson, Kayla Ingraham, Layne Lathrop
5,000m- Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson, Jaylyn Hallgrimson
100mH- Brooke Stayner, Ailsa Gilbert, Jayel Dovichak, Whitney Morrison, Ainsley Shipman
400mH- Whitney Morrison, Brooke Stayner, Jayel Dovichak
Steeple- Iris McKean
4x100m- One Squad
4x400m- One Squad
High Jump- Erin Wilde, Brooke Stayner, Claire Hutchison, Whitney Morrison
Pole Vault- Samantha Serex, Emma Zimmerman, Molly Chambers, Chesnee Lawrence, Hannah Moses
Long Jump- Perry Paffhausen
Triple Jump- Ailsa Gilbert, Ainsley Shipman
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas, Whitney Morrison, Brooke Stayner
Discus- Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Cathlene Van Zyl
Hammer- Ariel Clark, Savana Ramirez, Morgan Thomas, Scout Nadeau, Mary Mickelson, Molly O'Dell, Cathlene Van Zyl
Javelin- Lea Moose, Ashley Carroll, Tatum McNamara
Â
Â
The meet opens Friday afternoon at 2:30 with four field events, while prelims in the running events open at 3:00 p.m. The finals will be held on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. The meet will be streamed on ESPN+ with live results on Athletic Live.
Â
Montana will compete alongside athletes from host Idaho State and Montana State as well as some of the top D-II schools in the area.
Â
The format makes it a great precursor to the Big Sky meet. Montana will hope to get as many athletes as possibly through Friday's prelims, giving them the chance to run back-to-back days.
Â
"It's a good format for us because in the sprint and hurdle races they run prelims on Friday and finals on Saturday. With the good level of competition that's going to be there, it's a good experience for our kids to hone in on making that final. If they do, coming back and running those races the next day just like they would at the conference meet is a really good dress rehearsal two weeks out."
Â
If the Grizzlies can do that in Bozeman in a few weeks, it will mean points on the board.
Â
There will be plenty of drama in the field events as well, which have been a strength for Montana this year. The highlight of the season so far for the Grizzlies came last week at the Montana Open when Evan Todd broke the javelin school record.
Â
Todd's throw of 234-5 currently has the two-time Big Sky Champion ranked fourth in the league and 15th in the West Qualifying Region. He's a lock to reach the NCAA First Round, but is still looking to add distance before he attempts to defend his crown.
Â
Zane Johnson in the men's pole vault is also holding strong to a regional spot, currently ranked 34th with a mark of 16-11. He's also chasing new heights, which would likely mean a new school record as well. Johnson is narrowly behind Keith Webber's 2014 record of 17-2.75, and would all but guarantee a repeat trip to the West Regional if he's able to hit that mark.
Â
There's a third Grizzly on the regional bubble, and Jason Upton is also closing in on a potential school record. Upton currently has a best mark of 24-8.5 in the long jump, which ranks 41st in the region, second in the Big Sky, and is within four inches of a school record.
Â
It wouldn't be the first school record this year for Upton, who ran a leg on the 4x100m relay team that broke a 55-year old record earlier this season at the Al Manuel Invitational. The group will run once again in Pocatello, and have their eyes set on a sub 40-second time.
Â
"The level of competition and a good venue like Pocatello makes it a good opportunity for those kids that are on the regional bubble to try to push through and get that next bar or better time," Fraley said.
Â
On the women's side, Erin Wilde has been a model of consistency in the high jump by clearing at least 5-7 at four straight meets. Her best mark (5-8) has her leading the Big Sky conference as she looks to win her third straight Big Sky title across indoor and outdoor.
Â
She is in a regional qualifying spot right now at 44th, but may need to bump her best mark up slightly to guarantee a trip to Fayetteville, Ark. In late May for the NCAA West First Round. The Montana school record is 5-10, set by Cathy Schwend in 1994.
Â
Ariel Clark also enters the home stretch of the season on the regional bubble in the women's hammer throw. Clark is 46th in the region with a mark of 189-7.
Â
This weekend will be a great opportunity for Clark and teammate Savana Ramirez. The Grizzlies are currently ranked 3-4 in the Big Sky this season. This weekend's meet will feature four of the five best in the Big Sky in the event, including second-place Sarah Wilensky of Idaho State. Â
Â
"It's a good test for them and again, up against some of the better competition in the conference. To be able to get in and do that two weeks before the real show is a big benefit," Fraley said. "You know that way that you've either proven yourself, or if you have a bad meet you've got two weeks to learn and correct those things."
Â
Montana has plenty of other athletes that are within striking distance of scoring at the Big Sky Championships in Bozeman. For most, this will be their last chance to lay down a good time and either remain inside or move into the top 8 in the league's performance list.
Â
The Grizzlies will close the regular season next week with the Tom Gage Classic on May 4 at Dornblaser Field. The Big Sky Championships will be held May 8-11 in Bozeman.
Â
Montana Men's Entries
100m- Teagun Holycross, Karsen Beitz, Jason Upton
200m- Teagun Holycross, Xavier Melice, Karsen Beitz, Easton Brotherson
400m- Taylor Johnson, Jay Beagle, Ty Ferguson, Garrett Dahlke
800m- Henry Ballinger, Truman Thompson, Casey Crouch, Michael Jump, Colin Shaules
1,500m- Henry Ballinger, Lane Cole, Truman Thompson, Maxwell Scott, Colin Shaules
5,000m- Maxwell Scott, Lane Cole, Zachary Giesch
110mH- Jaydon Green, Easton Brotherson
400mH- Adam Maxwell
Steeple- Carson Steckelberg
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- Two squads
High Jump- Patrick Kremer, Zachary Travis, Adam Maxwell
Pole Vault- Zane Johnson, Kevin Swindler, Carson Hegele, Carter Petersen, Jackson Merrill
Long Jump- Jason Upton, Jethro Thorne, Gordon McMillion, Patrick Kremer
Triple Jump- Dylan Zink
Shot Put- Alex Shields, Wade Rykal, Memphis Black, Porter Coffield
Discus- Walker McDonald, Porter Coffield
Hammer- Walker McDonald, Wade Rykal, Alex Shields, Memphis Black
Javelin- Evan Todd, Everett Fred, Porter Coffield
Â
Montana Women's Entries
100m- Lily Meskers, Audrey Smith, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Destiny Santiago
200m- Lily Meskers, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Cosley Bruno, Destiny Santiago, Ainsley Shipman
400m- Mikenna Ells, Cosley Bruno
800m- Katie Whitehurst, Mackenzie Morgan, MacKenzie Dean, Layne Lathrop, Jaylyn Hallgrimson
1,500m- Jaylyn Hallgrimson, Mackenzie Morgan, Iris McKean, Jade Hallgrimson, Kayla Ingraham, Layne Lathrop
5,000m- Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson, Jaylyn Hallgrimson
100mH- Brooke Stayner, Ailsa Gilbert, Jayel Dovichak, Whitney Morrison, Ainsley Shipman
400mH- Whitney Morrison, Brooke Stayner, Jayel Dovichak
Steeple- Iris McKean
4x100m- One Squad
4x400m- One Squad
High Jump- Erin Wilde, Brooke Stayner, Claire Hutchison, Whitney Morrison
Pole Vault- Samantha Serex, Emma Zimmerman, Molly Chambers, Chesnee Lawrence, Hannah Moses
Long Jump- Perry Paffhausen
Triple Jump- Ailsa Gilbert, Ainsley Shipman
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas, Whitney Morrison, Brooke Stayner
Discus- Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Cathlene Van Zyl
Hammer- Ariel Clark, Savana Ramirez, Morgan Thomas, Scout Nadeau, Mary Mickelson, Molly O'Dell, Cathlene Van Zyl
Javelin- Lea Moose, Ashley Carroll, Tatum McNamara
Â
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps - PV
/ Men'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
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Hurdles
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps - PV
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi-events/Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Multi-events/Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi-events
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps - PV
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and FieldGriz Soccer vs. Nevada Postgame Report - 8/31/25
Friday, September 12
Griz Soccer Weekly Press Conference - 9/8/25
Friday, September 12
Griz Volleyball Weekly Press Conference - 9/8/25
Tuesday, September 09
Griz Football vs. Central Washington Highlights - 9/6/25
Tuesday, September 09
