Sports
NCAA West First Rounds Up Next for Bobcat Track and Field
Story Links BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State track and field adds another chapter to a historic season this week, sending their second-largest group ever to the NCAA West First Rounds as 21 Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, for competition beginning Wednesday at Texas A&M University. The total number of […]
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State track and field adds another chapter to a historic season this week, sending their second-largest group ever to the NCAA West First Rounds as 21 Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, for competition beginning Wednesday at Texas A&M University.
The total number of 21 student-athletes who will wear Montana State across their chests at E.B. Cushing Stadium during the four-day meet is second only to last year’s group of 23.
“The number of qualifiers and having so many ranked so high signifies the strength of the track and field program,” head coach Lyle Weese said. “It is especially reflective of the breakthrough season for the women’s team across all event groups.”
12 of the Cats’ 19 event entries come on the women’s side, and include the ninth-ranked 4×400 meter relay team among the stacked field in the West.
Indeed, the 19 entries showcase incredible balance indicative of Montana State’s team strength across one of the best seasons in program history, with seven distance runners, six sprinters, four throwers, three pole vaulters, and one long jumper in College Station.
The meet structure this week in College Station parallels that of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with the men in action on Wednesday and Friday and the women in action on Thursday and Saturday.
Athletes who ranked among the top 48 in their respective events earned a berth into the NCAA West First Rounds. The top 12 in each event at the NCAA West First Rounds advance to the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, held June 11-14 at Hayward Field.
13 of Montana State’s 19 entries are seeded in the top 30 in the West region, with several Bobcats entering this week knowing they have legitimate chances to book a coveted ticket to Eugene.
“The level of competition at this meet is obviously really impressive,” Weese said. “We will need to make sure we are focused on ourselves, stick to our routine, and realize we don’t have to do anything we are not prepared for or haven’t done previously. Our season schedule has prepared us for success in this meet and the NCAA finals because we have seen competitors of this caliber throughout the season.”
The Bobcat men begin competition on Wednesday with Elijah Jackman entered in the hammer throw at 10 a.m. CT/9 a.m. MT. The junior is seeded 36th out of 48 competitors.
Later on Wednesday, five-time Big Sky champion Colby Wilson competes in the pole vault (5:30 p.m. CT) looking for his third appearance at the NCAA Championships. The native of Olympia, Washington, is seeded 22nd in the West region.
Wrapping up the men’s entries on Wednesday will be the duo of Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells racing in the 1,500 meter prelims at 6:30 p.m. CT. Cramb, the Big Sky champion, is ranked eighth in the West Region, while Ells is ranked 13th. The top five finishers from each of the four heats plus the next four fastest times advance to Friday’s national quarterfinal.
Thursday, Clara Fox kickstarts Montana State’s week on the women’s side competing in the javelin at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Shortly after, Hailey Coey looks to continue one of the all-time seasons by a Bobcat with the long jump at 4:30 p.m. CT. The junior from Billings is ranked ninth in the West Region and will be in an advantageous position as part of the final flight.
For the first time in program history, multiple women’s pole vaulters will compete at the regional stage, with both Big Sky champion Tatum Richards (seeded 41st) and Megan Bell (seeded 48th) in action at 5:30 p.m. CT. in the national semifinals on Thursday.
At 6 p.m. CT. on Thursday, Big Sky Conference record-holder Sydney Brewster enters the shot put ring for a highly-anticipated competition. The sophomore is ranked 13th in the West region, and will be joined in the event by fellow sophomore teammate Emma Brensdal, ranked 29th in the West.
Also at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, junior Millie Hubbell will race in the prelims of the 100 meter hurdles. The two-time Big Sky silver medalist currently holds the second-fastest time in program history and is seeded 29th in the West region.
Later on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. CT junior hurdler Giulia Gandolfi will race in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles. The native of Faenza, Italy, is doubling this week in College Station, and hopes to run twice on Saturday—once in the 400 meter hurdle final and again as part of the 4×400 meter relay.
In the final event on Thursday, school record-holder Peyton Garrison gets in the starting blocks for the 200 meters at 8:45 p.m. CT. Garrison, seeded 45th, will also run in the Bobcats’ 4×400 meter relay on Saturday evening.
Friday, the men’s 1,500 meter national quarterfinal begins the slate—with hopefully Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells fighting for tickets to Eugene.
Immediately after, ‘Steeple U’ hits the track with three Bobcats including Rob McManus (seeded 4th), Owen Smith (seeded 23rd), and Will Kelly (seeded 30th) toeing the line to try to continue the Bobcats’ dominance in the event. In the latest USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings, the Montana State men’s steeplechase group ranked second nationally behind only BYU.
Saturday, Bozeman native and school record-holder Grace Gilbreth (seeded 13th) races in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase to begin the day in the early evening ahead of the finals in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles.
In the penultimate event of the night, school-record holder Kyla Christopher-Moody takes to the track for the 5,000 meters. In her final collegiate season, the graduate student has re-written the record books, with four new school records on top of four All-Big Sky honors.
Finally, the women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Jadyn VanDyken, Peyton Garrison, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes, and Olivia Lewis will run in the national semifinals aiming to become the first Montana State relay to ever make it to the NCAA Championships. The group is seeded ninth in the West Region thanks to their school-record time of 3:33.66 set at the Mt. SAC Relays in April.
The NCAA West First Rounds will stream live on ESPN+ with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT on both Wednesday and Thursday, and beginning at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday.
A full meet schedule is available here and start lists can be viewed here. A meet central webpage with links to live results, information, streaming, and more can be found here.
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