Coey reaches NCAA Nationals, breaks ground for MSU long jump

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University’s Hailey Coey got the national party started in College Station, Texas, becoming the first Bobcat to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

But Coey more importantly is making history as Montana State’s first athlete to compete in the long jump at nationals.

“I’m super honored to represent MSU on the national stage, especially being the first long jumper in school history,” Coey said. I’m super excited and hope I do a well job representing us.”

Coey has exploded onto the long jump scene in her junior campaign.

She broke the MSU program record twice this season, with her farthest leap of 6.49m (21 feet, 3.5 inches) at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho, also ranking No. 2 all-time in the Big Sky Conference.

“This year, she just got to an incredibly high level. She’s got so many jumps over 21 feet, so consistent,” MSU head track and field coach Lyle Weese said about Coey’s season. “To get Hailey into the NCAA Championships is so exciting and she’s definitely deserved it for the level she’s been at since she started jumping back in January.”

Coey took second in long jump in the Big Sky Outdoor Track and Field Championships in back-to-back seasons, but came out of Sacramento lacking confidence. She dealt with an injury that didn’t allow her to compete in the triple jump at the conference meet, but took flight at the NCAA West Regional.

The second-farthest jump of Coey’s career at 6.44m (21 feet, 1.5 inches) placed her eighth and booked her ticket to Eugene.

“At our conference meet, I had hurt my hamstring during long jump on the first day, so I wasn’t able to compete the second day,” Coey said. “After that, my confidence was pretty low, but then seeing that I was able to come back and jump my second-best jump of my life at regionals helped a lot.”

But a trip to nationals is also an opportunity for the Billings West product to not only represent MSU, but the Treasure State on the national stage.

“I’m really glad that I’m able to do it and be the first in school history again,” Coey said. “I’m really glad it’s someone from Montana that’s able to represent Montana State.”

Coey becomes the 13th Bobcat woman to reach the NCAA Championships, but won’t be the only female making the trip from Bozeman. Montana State’s 4x400m relay team is also competing, proving how much the MSU women’s program has elevated this season.

“I think we probably have the best MSU women’s team in school history,” Coey said. “It’s really exciting to be a part of this team, and to see all of my fellow teammates excel and have great successes.”

“It’s really built upon itself,” Weese said on the success of the MSU women. “It’s been that situation where they’ve raised each other’s ability level, but to see so many school records from every event group is really an exciting thing for our program, and also that so many of them will be back for future years.”

Coey competes in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene on Thursday at 5:40 p.m. PST.