Todd, Wilde win Big Sky titles in Bozeman

Photo by: Jackson Wagner

5/10/2024 10:28:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana track and field team finished up the first full day of the Big Sky Championship meet with impressive results on Friday in Bozeman. The Grizzlies had two Big Sky Champions in Evan Todd and Erin Wilde, and saw three more athletes reach the podium as All-Conference performers.

Montana's men and women both sit in fourth in the league standings after day three. The women have 32 points and the men have 29 points through seven of the 21 events.

"It really was a great overall day for both our men's and women's teams," head coach Doug Fraley said. "Any time you get people that are favored to win or be on the podium and they deliver on that, it's a really good day. It's hard to get on that podium and it's hard to win, and for our athletes to hold serve or improve in some cases to get on a podium or make a final on the track was outstanding today."

Todd wins third straight javelin title

Even Todd entered Friday morning men's javelin in unfamiliar territory. The two-time defending champion broke the Montana school record last month, but despite that still had just the fourth-best seed in the event as the rest of the conference has risen to incredible heights.

The field featured five of the top 20 throwers in the west, and three of them were also in the top 25 nationally.

After the first round of throws, Weber State's Cody Canard, who has the fourth-best mark in the NCAA this season, led the way at 227-5. In the break between prelims and the final three throws, Todd sat in fourth place with a best mark of 217-11.

He paced the runway in between, javelin in hand. The reigning champion in the event wasn't pleased with the first three throws, but knew that he had more in him. He took a practice throw on a short run, and felt everything fall into place.

"I just knew something was missing in those first three rounds," Todd said. "I had to do some soul searching and had to find myself. I took one throw in between prelims and finals and kind of found what I was looking for. I knew I've had it in me, it was just a matter of finding it."

On his first throw of the finals, Todd put together the best throw of a legendary career. He let out a scream, flicking the javelin to the boundaries of the field at the Bobcat Track Complex. They pulled the tape tight and announced the distance. 75.13 meters, or 246-6 feet.

The throw broke not only Todd's previous school record of 234-5, but also the Big Sky Conference's Championship record. He had to hold on for three throws apiece from the top three in the competition, but none threatened his record mark and Todd won the competing by a full 10 feet.

The throw is something that Fraley won't soon forget.

"I'm the son of a 50-year track coach, and have been to a lot of track meets in my life. Watching Evan Todd hit that throw in round four to break the Big Sky meet record, to break his school record, and win for the third time in a row was one of the finest things I've ever been around," Fraley said. "It couldn't happen to a better guy, and I'm so proud that it's a Montana guy and I'm just really happy for that young man."

It's the third straight title for the Kalispell product in the event, making him the first Griz athlete since Jas Gill in the high jump from 2003-2005 to win three in a row. He's just the sixth male Grizzly to win the same event three times at the conference level.

Todd's throw is the 11^th best in the NCAA this season and moves him into the top 10 in the West region. The mark also automatically qualifies him for the USA Olympic Trials.

"I'm sure I surprised a lot of people today, I surprised myself even, I wasn't expecting to hit that 75-meter mark but it's special to do it here in Bozeman," Todd said. " I mean, that auto qualifying mark for the trials is going to be really cool going down there and competing against the big dogs."

Before he heads to the Olympic trials, however, Todd will be competing in the NCAA West Regionals in Fayetteville, Ark. in two weeks. He's been aiming for a trip to nationals his entire career, and will have the chance to do that as he enters with a top 12 mark.

"Sky is the limit," Todd said. "I'm not going to put a limit on myself. I know what I'm capable of and I know that I can compete out there with guys throwing 80 meters, I just know it's in me."

Wilde defends outdoor crown, makes it three straight in the high jump

Erin Wilde shocked the conference last year in Greeley by winning the women's high jump as a freshman. The Whitefish product then went to the indoor championships in Spokane this year and did it again.

Entering Friday's competition, Wilde was the heavy favorite in the league to make it three straight. The sophomore did it with ease, clearing 5-7 on just her second attempt to win her third overall championship.

"It feels really good," Wilde said. "I had a big target on my back I feel like, and knew that the other girls wanted to beat me but I knew that I had to be there. Like Erica said, I just need to by myself, have fun with it, and keep pushing."

She entered with a mark that nearly three inches ahead of the closest competition. That alone would have put a target on her back, but the previous championships added even more pressure.

The sophomore handled all of it, remaining composed and jumping well to earn her third title. The Montana school record holder will now head to Fayetteville for the NCAA West regional meet.

"It's difficult to win when you're the favorite a lot of times," Fraley said. "This is three times in a row that she's showed up at this meet and come away with a victory. She's in a good groove right now and has had an amazing season that is going to move now to the NCAA First Rounds in Arkansas. There is so much value in being able to go out and be consistent and jump with confidence."

Wilde, similar to Todd, is ready for the big challenge that the regional meet brings with it. She qualified as a freshman and will be making a return trip this year. She's currently tied for 21^st with her best mark of the year, but is within an inch of the top 12 and a potential trip to nationals.

"I don't think there is a limit, as long as you keep pushing yourself and as long as you are yourself in what you do, you will achieve what you want," Wilde said.

All-Conference honors in the field

The biggest event of the day for Montana was the men's pole vault, where a trio of Grizzlies finished 2-3-4 to rake in 18 total points for the team. Zane Johnson finished second, Carson Hegele third, and Carter Petersen fourth.

Johnson finished third in Spokane during the indoor championships and entered seeded second in the event. The Montana school record holder and senior delivered with a fantastic performance, nearly breaking the record again by clearing 17-0.25 to finish second.

"Zane has been our guy all year and he did exactly what we expected him to do," Fraley said.

Hegele was the surprise of the first day for Montana. The walk-on from Waxhaw, N.C. didn't clear 15 feet in his first season at Montana. He finally hit that mark during the indoor season, and then consistently kept improving. Hegele reached 16-feet for the first time ever at the Montana Open in late April.

In a loaded pole vault field, Hegele guaranteed himself points when he cleared a PR of 16-2.5 on his first attempt. When he went up and over 16-8.25 on his third and final attempt, he locked up an All-Conference spot.

"Carson Hegele, a walk-on that didn't start vaulting until his senior year in high school after football season, double PRs today and makes the podium. Just fantastic for that young man. He had a bit of a rough freshman year, but he stuck with it and the fruits of his labor are coming to fruition in the form of a podium finish in a really good pole vault field."

Carter Petersen also scored for Montana, jumping 16-2.5 to tie for fourth in the meet and pull in four more team points.

"Any time you can get 18 points in a single event at the conference championships, that is very dominant," Fraley said. "My hat is off to Erica Fraley for developing that group into a group that could come to a conference meet and score 18 points, it's fantastic."

Ariel Clark also earned All-Conference honors for Montana in the women's hammer throw. Clark, a Deer Lodge product, entered the meet right around that level and delivered with a big throw of 183-3 on her second attempt to place third.

It's the first All-Conference honors of Clark's career. The fifth-year athlete came back for one last go with the Grizzlies, and made the most of it on Friday.

"Ariel was really driven to come back and use her fifth year and one of her main goals was to make the podium at the Big Sky meet," Fraley said. "For her to accomplish that in her last track meet as a Grizzly is just fantastic. I'm really proud of her effort and the leadership that she has shown a young female throws group."

Griz send nine track athletes to Saturday's finals

On the track, Montana competed in preliminary races on Friday with the goal of finishing in the top eight and qualifying for Saturday's finals. Mission accomplished.

Montana entered the day with just four athletes ranked inside the top eight on the track in their events, but will send nine runners into Saturday's finals.

"You need to fill lanes for the finals when you get the opportunity, and we had people inside the top eight making finals and people outside the top eight that surprised and made finals," Fraley said. "That's how you are successful as a team."

Karsen Beitz and Xavier Melice both reached the 200m final on the men's side. Paul Johnstone and Jay Beagle both earned a place in the 400m final, while Jaydon Green and Easton Brotherson both qualified for the 110m hurdles final.

Lily Meskers and Mikenna Ells reached the 400m finals for the women, and freshman Jayel Dovichak qualified for the 100m hurdles finals.

The Grizzlies will also have eight more field events as they look to build on a very solid start to the meet.

"We've got really good field events that showed today in terms of finishes and points, and it's going to be really nice tomorrow to have a little bit of firepower on the track in the finals to add more points to the total," Fraley said.

Men's Results
100m Prelims- Karsen Beitz (10.64, 14^th), Teagun Holycross (10.85, 19^th), Jason Upton (10.94, 23^rd)
200m Prelims- Karsen Beitz (21.29, 4Q), Xavier Melice (21.36, 8Q), Cade Johnstone (46.46, 26^th)
400m Prelims- Paul Johnstone (47.57, 6Q), Jay Beagle (47.76*, 8Q), Ty Ferguson (48.08*, 10^th), Taylor Johnson (49.12, 18^th)
800m Prelims- Henry Ballinger (1:51.49, 10^th), Truman Thompson (1:53.10, 17^th)
1,500m Prelims- Lane Cole (3:50.11*, 14^th)
110mH- Jaydon Green (14.09^, 3Q), Easton Brotherson (14.76*, 8Q)
Pole Vault- Zane Johnson (17-0.25, 2^nd), Carson Hegele (16-8.25*, 3^rd), Carter Petersen (16-2.5, 4^th), Kevin Swindler (15-2.75, 11^th)
Long Jump- Jason Upton (23-3.25, 8^th), Patrick Kremer (22-8.5, 11^th), Jethro Thorne (22-8.5, 11^th), Gordon McMillion (21-11.5, 13^th)
Discus- Walker McDonald (146-10, 14^th)
Javelin- Evan Todd (246-6^*#, 1^st), Everett Fred (194-10, 9^th)

Women's Results
100m Prelims- Audrey Smith (12.47, 18^th)
400m Prelims- Lily Meskers (55.33*, 6Q), Mikenna Ells (55.90*, 8Q), Claire Hutchison (57.11, 12^th), Cosley Bruno (58.25, 15^th)
800m Prelims- Katie Whitehurst (2:12.02, 11^th), Mackenzie Morgan (2:14.63, 14^th)
1,500m Prelims- Jade Hallgrimson (4:45.12*, 17^th), Jaylyn Hallgrimson (4:48.43*, 18^th)
110mH- Jayel Dovichak (13.97, 7Q), Ainsley Shipman (14.20*, 9^th), Brooke Stayner (14.36, 10^th), Ailsa Gilbert (14.39, 11^th)
400mH- Whitney Morrison (1:01.44*, 9^th), Jayel Dovichak (1:04.81, 17^th)
High Jump- Erin Wilde (5-7, 1^st), Brooke Stayner (5-3.75*, 4^th), Whitney Morrison (NH)
Long Jump- Ainsley Shipman (18-1, 15^th)
Shot Put- Cathlene Van Zyl (43-9.75, 9^th), Scout Nadeau (42-0.5, 13^th), Ariel Clark (41-6, 15^th), Morgan Thomas (40-11.5, 18^th)
Hammer- Ariel Clark (183-3, 3^rd), Savana Ramirez (167-6, 8^th)

#Big Sky Championship record
^School record
*PR
Q – qualified for Saturday's finals

Men's Team Scores
1. Montana State – 80
2. Weber State – 48
3. Northern Arizona – 33
4. Montana – 29
5. Idaho State – 25
6. Eastern Washington – 23
7. Sacramento State – 15
8. Idaho – 14
9. Portland State – 4
10. Northern Colorado – 2

Women's Team Scores
1. Montana State – 49.5
2. Northern Arizona – 47.5
3. Weber State – 44
4. Montana – 32
5. Idaho – 29.5
6. Idaho State – 29
7. Eastern Washington – 27
8. Sacramento State – 14.5
T9. Northern Colorado – 0
T9. Portland State - 0