Griz restart indoor season in Spokane

Friday, January 16

Spokane, Wash.

Montana

Spokane Indoor Challenge

Photo by: Northern Arizona Athletics

1/14/2026 1:25:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Meet Schedule Live Results Performance List

By: Montana Sports Information

Spokane Indoor Challenge
The Podium / Jan. 16-17 / Live Results / Meet Schedule

It's been a long winter break for the Montana track and field program, but the action resumes this week when the Grizzlies head over Lookout Pass to compete in the Spokane Indoor Challenge over the weekend.

The meet starts on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. (MT) with two men's field events and four total races. The bulk of the meet will take place on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. (MT) for both track and field events.

It's the first meet in over a month for Montana and comes as students are returning to campus for the spring semester.

"Everybody is happy to be back on campus," head coach Doug Fraley said. "Monday was the first day of practice and spirits were high, kids have been doing a good job with their winter break training, and it looks like people came back in pretty good shape. Now it's a matter of finding out where we are at performance-wise."

Expectations are high for both the men and women in Missoula this year following an outstanding 2025 season. The Grizzly men were picked 3^rd in the preseason poll while the women slotted in at 4^th.

It's the highest preseason ranking for the men since 2015 and the best for the women since 2018.

They started off the indoor season in early December with the Bobcat Preview meet in Bozeman. Now, they kick off a stretch of six regular season meets over the next two months to build up to the Big Sky Indoor Championships.

"The first meet in Bozeman was important to find out what kind of shape we were in to finish the semester. This first meet in Spokane really gives our staff indications of where we're at coming off the break," Fraley said. "It's very important for us to get numbers on every kid that is going to travel and see exactly where we're starting the campaign."

There were plenty of impressive debuts from Montana athletes in Bozeman with six event wins in total. The Grizzlies have returning stars on both sides and Big Sky Championship potential in several event areas.

The newcomers on the program also impressed in their collegiate debuts with a couple of athletes competing with the very best in the Big Sky in their first ever meets as Grizzlies.

"We had a lot of very good performances before the break from the newcomers and now it's a matter of seeing how they've managed their winter break and are they able to compete at that same level coming back," Fraley said. "We're interested to see how far along they are as we begin the real indoor season."

The Podium typically draws in great programs from the west and this year is no exception. Big Sky foes Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Sacramento State will be in attendance in addition to teams like Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and Fresno State.

"There will be some really good D-I competition and then some smaller schools, but any track meet that you go to at The Podium is going to have very good competition in all the events," Fraley said. "It sets up well for us to be able to run, jump, and throw against good competition."

The preseason predictions are nice, and the results from Bozeman give Fraley and company a starting point for the year. But now it's time to get the real season underway and start the journey toward Pocatello and the Big Sky Championships on the final weekend of February.

"Everybody, staff and athletes included, felt like it was a very long winter break," Fraley said. "Everybody is chomping at the bit to get back into a routine and start competing. We're excited to go to Spokane and will be interested to see how things come out in week one of the regular season."

MONTANA WOMEN'S ENTRIES
60m- Callie Wilson, Tara Ohlwiler, Mikenna Ells, Brooke Zetooney, Rileigh McGree, Ainsley Shipman, Isabelle Berry, Alivia Rinehart
200m- Tara Ohlwiler, Lily Meskers, Callie Wilson, Brooke Zetooney, Mikenna Ells, Rileigh McGree, Jayel Dovichak, Alivia Rinehart, Isabelle Berry
400m- Sophia Clark, Ally Sempf, Cosley Bruno
800m- Libby Hartz
Mile- Iris McKean, Olivia Coll
5,000m- Kayla Ingraham
60mH- Jayel Dovichak, Kensey Gault, Brooke Stayner, Ainsley Shipman, Isabelle Berry, Alivia Rinehart
4x400m- Two squads
High Jump-
Pole Vault- Reghan Skogen, Kate Suemnick, Hannah Moses
Long Jump- Ainsley Shipman, Brooke Stayner, Emily Maughan
Shot Put- Scout Nadeau, Avery DeVincenzi, Lillian White, Brooke Stayner
Weight Throw- Morgan Thomas, Calista Ousley, Scout Nadeau, Lillian White, Avery DeVincenzi

MONTANA MEN'S ENTRIES
60m- Karsen Beitz, Malaki Simpson, Romin Saleki, Bennett Bliven, Evan Barnes, Adam Maxwell
200m- Braden Ankeny, Karsen Beitz, Malaki Simpson, Ben Bliven, Romin Saleki
400m- Ben Antley, Taylor Johnson, Cadence Waller, Garrett Dahlke, Adam Maxwell
800m- Truman Thompson, Henry Ballinger, Morgan Amano, Will Sandnes
Mile- Lane Krautschun
5,000m- Luke Mest, Zachary Giesch
60mH- Evan Barnes
4x400m- Two squads
DMR- One squad
High Jump- Patrick Kremer, Sam Henderson, Zachary Travis, Adam Maxwell
Pole Vault- Kevin Swindler, Carson Hegele, Michael Cullen, Corbin Luce
Long Jump- Patrick Kremer
Triple Jump- Sam Henderson
Shot Put- Donaven Humphries, Astin Brown
Weight Throw- Donaven Humphries, Tyler Bates, Cooper Henkle, Astin Brown