Beitz, Swindler break records on impressive day one for the Griz

The University of Montana hosts the Al Manuel Invitational track and field meet on March 27, 2026 at Dornblaser Field in Missoula, MT.

Photo by: Coral Scoles-Coburn/University of Montana

Beitz, Swindler break records on impressive day one for the Griz

5/1/2026 8:49:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

By: Montana Sports Information

Stop us if you've heard this one before; the Montana track & field program had a record breaking day on Friday afternoon. The Grizzlies added two more program records to the 2026 list behind big performances from Karsen Beitz and Kevin Swindler.

"We really took advantage of the conditions, took advantage of the competition, and got off to a tremendous start in all areas today," head coach Doug Fraley said.

Beitz broke a 44-year old record in the men's 100m with a time of 10.25 and now owns both sprint records at Montana. Swindler, the indoor record holder in the men's pole vault, added the outdoor record to his resume on Friday by clearing 17-7.25.

They were just two of the many outstanding efforts from the Griz on day one of the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho. The Grizzlies had PRs, event wins, and top 10 all-time marks all across the board in the field and on the track.

"We are all about being a well-rounded team and this is the time of year, two weeks out from conference, where if you are firing you need to keep firing and if you're not, you need to get it going," Fraley said. "I thought we had a lot of both today. People who were struggling got going, and people who had it going got even better.

Beitz set the record in the men's 100m to qualify with the fastest time in a loaded field of runners from Idaho State and Montana State. He has now run 10.25 or better in back-to-back meets after a 10.17 in California two weeks ago that wasn't eligible for school records.

There were a trio of Grizzlies right behind him as Ben Bliven (10.48), Romin Saleki (10.61), and Brody Thornsberry (10.61) all ran top 10 times in program history.

Beitz also won the men's 200m in a near-record time at 20.58. It's the second-best time in program history, trailing only his own record of 20.55 from two weeks ago.

"I'm really pleased for Karsen," Fraley said. "He ran really fast in Long Beach but didn't get credit for the record because it was wind-aided. Today, he was able to take care of it by breaking the record handily with a wind-legal mark. It's a great backup from a great breakthrough out in California. He backed it up in great fashion today."

Swindler joined Beitz in the record breaking with a huge day in the men's pole vault. Swindler was also pushed in a competitive field, and on his third and final attempt at 17-7.25 he was able to go up and over to break a Montana record that was set by Carson Weeden at last year's Big Sky Championship.

"Kevin has been ready to do this," Fraley said. "He's been vaulting better than his results so far and it's really great to see the promise that we know he has come to fruition today. That was a great performance from him."

The only thing that has been able to stop Callie Wilson from breaking every school record in her path has been the wind. The freshman once again ran times that would have put her in the Grizzly record book in both the 100m and the 200m, but both fell outside of the wind-legal range of 2.0 m/s.

Still, Wilson won the women's 200m with a time of 23.36 and qualified for the finals with the fastest time in the 100m at 11.35 seconds. Both times would have been program records in slightly less wind.

It's a top 30 mark in the West in the 100m and breaks her into the top 50 in the 200m.

"Those are super high-level performances," Fraley said of Wilson's runs. "She really got going today and has been working on being very deliberate in practice. She was in the right mindset today, and even though those won't count for school records they will improve her regional rankings tremendously and that's huge."

One of the most impressive school records at Montana nearly went down on Friday in an incredibly high-level javelin competition. Kyle Iorg was the top collegiate thrower in the event with the second-best mark in program history at 240-0.

Iorg's mark moves him into the top 10 in the NCAA West Region and is the best mark in the Big Sky this year. Freshman Hunter Loesch moved into 3^rd in program history by finishing right behind him at 233-10. Loesch is now 2^nd in the Big Sky and 11^th in the west.

"We have two really good men's javelin throwers that just keep pushing each other," Fraley said. "For them to take PRs over 70 meters and have one go 73 and one go 71 today is great momentum that they are pushing each other with."

Patrick Kremer won the men's long jump with one of the best jumps in program history. Kremer's mark of 24-5 won by nearly a foot and moved him into the top five in UM history.

The women's javelin group had a good day, led by the first career meet victory for Ella Moodry. The sophomore from Butte had a PR of 147-3 to top the field and move into 6^th in the Big Sky in the event.

Ashley Carroll and Brynn Fuller finished 2^nd and 3^rd in the event for the Griz with throws of 146-2 and 138-1, respectively.

Montana will return to action on Saturday morning with the other half of the field events and finals in running events. After a highly successful day one, Fraley is hoping to keep the momentum rolling on Saturday.

"Tonight is going to be a really fun team meeting because we will be celebrating school records, personal bests, improved regional standings, improved conference standings," Fraley said. "But the main message aside from the excitement will be, we have to get up tomorrow and do it all again."

MONTANA SCHOOL RECORDS

Kevin Swindler, pole vault (17-7.25)
Karsen Beitz, 100m (10.25)

TOP 10 WATCH
The following athletes entered or moved up in the Montana all-time top 10 lists on Friday.

Kyle Iorg, javelin (240-0, 2^nd)
Hunter Loesch, javelin (233-10, 3^rd)
Patrick Kremer, long jump (24-5, 4^th)
Ben Bliven, 100m (10.48, 5^th)
Ainsley Shipman, 100mH (13.83, 6^th)
Brooke Zetooney, 200m (23.87, 6^th)
Romin Saleki, 100m (10.61, 9^th)
Brody Thornsberry, 100m (10.61, 9^th)

MEN'S RESULTS
100m- Karsen Beitz (10.25^q, 1^st), Ben Bliven (10.48*q, 8^th), Brody Thornsberry (10.61*, 10^th), Romin Saleki (10.61*, 10^th)
200m- Karsen Beitz (20.58, 1^st), Braden Ankeny (21.09, 4^th), Ben Bliven (21.28*, 6^th), Cadence Waller (21.36*, 9^th), Taylor Johnson (21.48*, 11^th)
1,500m- Henry Ballinger (3:52.29, 2^nd), Henry Sund (3:55.64*, 6^th), Lane Krautschun (3:58.46, 9^th), Zachary Giesch (4:00.64*, 10^th), Albert Turner (4:03.32, 11^th), Carson Steckelberg (4:10.84*, 14^th)
110mH- Evan Barnes (14.89*q, 2^nd)
400mH- Adam Maxwell (54.52q, 3^rd)
Pole Vault- Kevin Swindler (17-7.25^, 1^st), Carson Hegele (16-7.5, 4^th), Michael Cullen (16-1.75, 5^th), Corbin Luce (15-1.75, 7^th), Carter Petersen (15-1.75, 8^th)
Long Jump- Patrick Kremer (24-5*, 1^st)
Hammer- Astin Brown (173-8*, 6^th), Tyler Bates (165-0, 8^th), Alex Shields (157-1, 10^th), Titus Jeffrey (149-8, 12^th)
Javelin- Kyle Iorg (240-0*, 2^nd), Hunter Loesch (233-10*, 3^rd)

WOMEN'S RESULTS
100m- Callie Wilson (11.35*q, 1^st), Rileigh McGree (11.65*q, 3^rd), Brooke Zetooney (11.71q, 5^th), Tara Ohlwiler (11.82q, 7^th)
200m- Callie Wilson (23.36*, 1^st), Brooke Zetooney (23.87*, 4^th), Lily Meskers (23.89, 5^th), Tara Ohlwiler (23.92, 6^th), Rileigh McGree (24.16, 7^th), Ainsley Shipman (24.33, 9^th), Sophia Clark (24.39, 10^th), Claire Hutchison (24.44, 11^th), Cosley Bruno (24.56*, 12^th), Isabelle Berry (24.71, 14^th), Jayel Dovichak (24.96, 17^th), Ally Sempf (25.10, 18^th), Kensey Gault (25.23, 20^th)
1,500m- Iris McKean (4:49.09, 2^nd), Olivia Coll (4:58.13, 4^th)
100mH- Jayel Dovichak (13.83q, t2^nd), Ainsley Shipman (13.83*q, t2nd), Isabelle Berry (14.33q, 7^th), Kensey Gault (15.24, 14^th)
Long Jump- Emily Maughan (16-6.5, 10^th), Brooke Stayner (16-6, 12^th)
Hammer- Mary Mickelson (164-2, 3^rd), Avery DeVincenzi (160-11, 6^th), Scout Nadeau (160-2, 7^th), Calista Ousley (152-7, 11^th), Morgan Thomas (FOUL), Lillian White (FOUL)
Javelin- Ella Moodry (147-3*, 1^st), Ashley Carroll (146-2, 2^nd), Brynn Fuller (138-1, 3^rd), Brooke Stayner (96-9, 7^th)

^Montana School Record
*Personal Record
Q – Qualified for Saturday's final