Friday, April 5
Bozeman, Mont.
11:30 AM
Montana
at
Griz-Cat Dual
Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana
Montana hopes to repeat 2023 success in Friday's Griz-Cat Dual
4/3/2024 3:39:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Paul Johnstone put absolutely everything he had on the line last April, pushing himself to the brink and practically falling across the finish line in the men's 4x400m relay in the annual Griz-Cat Dual. Johnstone, and his three teammates on that day, finished one hundredth of a second in front of the Montana State team. The result of that effort was Montana's first dual victory over the Bobcats since 2013.
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Now, Johnstone and the rest of the Grizzlies will head to Bozeman looking to defend that victory and keep the trophy in Missoula for another year. They will have their hands full with a nationally ranked Bobcat team on the men's side and a top squad on the women's.
Â
Montana and Montana State will renew the rivalry this Friday in Bozeman at the Bobcat Track & Field Complex. The meet will begin at 11:30 a.m. with field events, and has been rescheduled from its original Saturday date as a result of winter weather moving in over the weekend.
Â
The dual will use the 5-3-2-1 point system with the top two performers per team scoring from each event. Last season, the relay victory gave Montana a 97.5-93.5 victory on the men's side. The Bobcat women won 107.5-85.5.
Â
"We're excited. The kids have had a good week since we had no meet last week so we've had good training and rest," head coach Doug Fraley said. "As with any sport on this campus, there is a heightened sense of stimulation when you're getting ready to compete against the Cats and it's no different for us this week."
Â
The Grizzlies had last week off after hosting the Al Manuel Invitational on March 22. They are in good form heading into the dual. The highlight of the home meet was the men's 4x100-meter relay team breaking a 55-year old school record.
Â
Dick Koontz, Roy Robinson, Bill Zins, and Bob Zins ran a time of 40.44 seconds during the spring of 1969. The group set a record that day, but it would be difficult to imagine it holding up for as long as it has. In order for the legendary record to be broken, Montana had to put together a highly-impressive group of sprinters.
Â
The group of Teagun Holycross, Jason Upton, Xavier Melice, and Cooper Hewett were the quartet to finally best the record. The team ran a 40.35 second time, breaking the school record and moving into second on the Big Sky performance list for the season.
Â
They headline a men's team that should have contenders at the Big Sky meet in a variety of events. In the Preseason Big Sky Coaches' Poll, the Montana men were picked to finish fifth. The women were tabbed ninth, as both preseason rankings matched Montana's indoor finishes.
Â
"It was pretty expected. What coaches have to go by more than anything is what happened indoors," Fraley said. "You tend to have those preseason rankings reflective of how you did indoors or how you did the previous year. No big surprise, now our job is to go out there and outperform that."
Â
Northern Arizona are once again the favorites in the league on both the men's and women's side, but it's Montana State that comes in behind them for both. The Bobcats finished as runner-up in the conference at the 2023 Championships in Greeley.
Â
They have returned with a strong team again in 2024. The MSU men were ranked No. 20 in the latest USTFCCCA National Rating Index. The increased competition level should bring out the best in Montana, as they will need a stellar performance to return the trophy to Missoula.
Â
"Any time you have the chance to go head-to-head with a top 25 team like we're doing with their men's team, it's a big-time opportunity for us," Fraley said. "It's going to be a big litmus test to find out where we're at. Last year, we had them at our place and this year they've got us at their place, so we've definitely got our work cut out for us. They have a ranked team on the men's side and a very, very good women's team as well. Our athletes are going to be put to the test in Bozeman."
Â
Montana will not only compete against some of the top competition in the Big Sky, they will also do it at the conference championship venue. The 2024 Big Sky Outdoor Championships will be held in Bozeman on May 8-11.
Â
The Grizzlies competed across the divide just once last year at the Tom Gage Classic the week before the Big Sky Championship. For many on Montana's travel roster for the Big Sky Championship, this will be their first experience with a meet in Bozeman.
Â
"A lot of our kids that are on the roster have never competed at the outdoor venue in Bozeman before, so to have the chance to go and have that dual meet at the same venue we're having the conference meet is great," Fraley said. "It's a great dress rehearsal for that."
Â
Montana Women's Entries
100m- Lily Meskers, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Destiny Santiago
200m- Lily Meskers, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Brooke Stayner, Destiny Santiago
400m- Mikenna Ells, Cosley Bruno
800m- Katie Whitehurst, Mackenzie Morgan, MacKenzie Dean
1,500m- Jaylyn Hallgrimson, Iris McKean, Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson, Layne Lathrop
5,000m- Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson
110mH- Jayel Dovichak, Ailsa Gilbert, Brooke Stayner, Ainsley Shipman
400mH- Jayel Dovichak, Whitney Morrison
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- One squad
High Jump- Erin Wilde, Brooke Stayner, Claire Hutchison
Pole Vault- Emma Zimmerman, Molly Chambers, Chesnee Lawrence, Hannah Moses, Samantha Serex
Long Jump- Perry Paffhausen, Ainsley Shipman, Ailsa Gilbert, Whitney Morrison
Triple Jump- Ainsley Shipman, Ailsa Gilbert
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl, Ariel Clark, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas
Discus- Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Cathlene Van Zyl
Hammer- Ariel Clark, Savana Ramirez, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Molly O'Dell, Cathlene Van Zyl
Javelin- Ashley Carroll, Tatum McNamara
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Men's Entries
100m- Karsen Beitz, Teagun Holycross, Jason Upton
200m- Karsen Beitz, Xavier Melice, Cody Lease
400m- Taylor Johnson, Paul Johnstone, Ty Ferguson, Jay Beagle
800m- Henry Ballinger, Casey Crouch, Truman Thompson, Michael Jump, Garrett Dahlke
1,500m- Henry Ballinger, Truman Thompson, Lane Cole, Maxwell Scott, Truman Cowan, Colin Shaules, Brady Woods
5,000m- Lane Cole, Zachary Giesch, Maxwell Scott, Brady Woods
110mH- Jaydon Green, Easton Brotherson
400mH- Adam Maxwell
Steeple- Carson Steckelberg
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- Two squads
High Jump- Patrick Kremer, Zachary Travis
Pole Vault- Zane Johnson, Kevin Swindler, Carson Hegele, Jackson Merrill, Carter Petersen
Long Jump- Jason Upton, Jethro Thorne, Gordon McMillion, Patrick Kremer
Triple Jump- Jason Upton, Zane Johnson, Dylan Zink
Shot Put- Alex Shields, Wade Rykal, Memphis Black, Porter Coffield
Discus- Walker McDonald, Porter Coffield, Wade Rykal
Hammer- Wade Rykal, Walker McDonald, Alex Shields, Memphis Black
Javelin- Evan Todd, Everett Fred, Porter Coffield
Â
Â
Now, Johnstone and the rest of the Grizzlies will head to Bozeman looking to defend that victory and keep the trophy in Missoula for another year. They will have their hands full with a nationally ranked Bobcat team on the men's side and a top squad on the women's.
Â
Montana and Montana State will renew the rivalry this Friday in Bozeman at the Bobcat Track & Field Complex. The meet will begin at 11:30 a.m. with field events, and has been rescheduled from its original Saturday date as a result of winter weather moving in over the weekend.
Â
The dual will use the 5-3-2-1 point system with the top two performers per team scoring from each event. Last season, the relay victory gave Montana a 97.5-93.5 victory on the men's side. The Bobcat women won 107.5-85.5.
Â
"We're excited. The kids have had a good week since we had no meet last week so we've had good training and rest," head coach Doug Fraley said. "As with any sport on this campus, there is a heightened sense of stimulation when you're getting ready to compete against the Cats and it's no different for us this week."
Â
The Grizzlies had last week off after hosting the Al Manuel Invitational on March 22. They are in good form heading into the dual. The highlight of the home meet was the men's 4x100-meter relay team breaking a 55-year old school record.
Â
Dick Koontz, Roy Robinson, Bill Zins, and Bob Zins ran a time of 40.44 seconds during the spring of 1969. The group set a record that day, but it would be difficult to imagine it holding up for as long as it has. In order for the legendary record to be broken, Montana had to put together a highly-impressive group of sprinters.
Â
The group of Teagun Holycross, Jason Upton, Xavier Melice, and Cooper Hewett were the quartet to finally best the record. The team ran a 40.35 second time, breaking the school record and moving into second on the Big Sky performance list for the season.
Â
They headline a men's team that should have contenders at the Big Sky meet in a variety of events. In the Preseason Big Sky Coaches' Poll, the Montana men were picked to finish fifth. The women were tabbed ninth, as both preseason rankings matched Montana's indoor finishes.
Â
"It was pretty expected. What coaches have to go by more than anything is what happened indoors," Fraley said. "You tend to have those preseason rankings reflective of how you did indoors or how you did the previous year. No big surprise, now our job is to go out there and outperform that."
Â
Northern Arizona are once again the favorites in the league on both the men's and women's side, but it's Montana State that comes in behind them for both. The Bobcats finished as runner-up in the conference at the 2023 Championships in Greeley.
Â
They have returned with a strong team again in 2024. The MSU men were ranked No. 20 in the latest USTFCCCA National Rating Index. The increased competition level should bring out the best in Montana, as they will need a stellar performance to return the trophy to Missoula.
Â
"Any time you have the chance to go head-to-head with a top 25 team like we're doing with their men's team, it's a big-time opportunity for us," Fraley said. "It's going to be a big litmus test to find out where we're at. Last year, we had them at our place and this year they've got us at their place, so we've definitely got our work cut out for us. They have a ranked team on the men's side and a very, very good women's team as well. Our athletes are going to be put to the test in Bozeman."
Â
Montana will not only compete against some of the top competition in the Big Sky, they will also do it at the conference championship venue. The 2024 Big Sky Outdoor Championships will be held in Bozeman on May 8-11.
Â
The Grizzlies competed across the divide just once last year at the Tom Gage Classic the week before the Big Sky Championship. For many on Montana's travel roster for the Big Sky Championship, this will be their first experience with a meet in Bozeman.
Â
"A lot of our kids that are on the roster have never competed at the outdoor venue in Bozeman before, so to have the chance to go and have that dual meet at the same venue we're having the conference meet is great," Fraley said. "It's a great dress rehearsal for that."
Â
Montana Women's Entries
100m- Lily Meskers, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Destiny Santiago
200m- Lily Meskers, Tara Ohlwiler, Claire Hutchison, Audrey Smith, Brooke Stayner, Destiny Santiago
400m- Mikenna Ells, Cosley Bruno
800m- Katie Whitehurst, Mackenzie Morgan, MacKenzie Dean
1,500m- Jaylyn Hallgrimson, Iris McKean, Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson, Layne Lathrop
5,000m- Kayla Ingraham, Jade Hallgrimson
110mH- Jayel Dovichak, Ailsa Gilbert, Brooke Stayner, Ainsley Shipman
400mH- Jayel Dovichak, Whitney Morrison
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- One squad
High Jump- Erin Wilde, Brooke Stayner, Claire Hutchison
Pole Vault- Emma Zimmerman, Molly Chambers, Chesnee Lawrence, Hannah Moses, Samantha Serex
Long Jump- Perry Paffhausen, Ainsley Shipman, Ailsa Gilbert, Whitney Morrison
Triple Jump- Ainsley Shipman, Ailsa Gilbert
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl, Ariel Clark, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas
Discus- Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Cathlene Van Zyl
Hammer- Ariel Clark, Savana Ramirez, Scout Nadeau, Morgan Thomas, Mary Mickelson, Molly O'Dell, Cathlene Van Zyl
Javelin- Ashley Carroll, Tatum McNamara
Â
Men's Entries
100m- Karsen Beitz, Teagun Holycross, Jason Upton
200m- Karsen Beitz, Xavier Melice, Cody Lease
400m- Taylor Johnson, Paul Johnstone, Ty Ferguson, Jay Beagle
800m- Henry Ballinger, Casey Crouch, Truman Thompson, Michael Jump, Garrett Dahlke
1,500m- Henry Ballinger, Truman Thompson, Lane Cole, Maxwell Scott, Truman Cowan, Colin Shaules, Brady Woods
5,000m- Lane Cole, Zachary Giesch, Maxwell Scott, Brady Woods
110mH- Jaydon Green, Easton Brotherson
400mH- Adam Maxwell
Steeple- Carson Steckelberg
4x100m- One squad
4x400m- Two squads
High Jump- Patrick Kremer, Zachary Travis
Pole Vault- Zane Johnson, Kevin Swindler, Carson Hegele, Jackson Merrill, Carter Petersen
Long Jump- Jason Upton, Jethro Thorne, Gordon McMillion, Patrick Kremer
Triple Jump- Jason Upton, Zane Johnson, Dylan Zink
Shot Put- Alex Shields, Wade Rykal, Memphis Black, Porter Coffield
Discus- Walker McDonald, Porter Coffield, Wade Rykal
Hammer- Wade Rykal, Walker McDonald, Alex Shields, Memphis Black
Javelin- Evan Todd, Everett Fred, Porter Coffield
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Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
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Sprints
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Throws
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Hurdles
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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
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
/ 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
Sprints/Jumps
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Mid-Distance
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Jumps
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Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
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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
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
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and FieldGriz Football vs North Dakota Highlights
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