The Montana State track and field team began its weekend competitions in California on April 4, splitting between the Stanford Invite and the Mike Fanelli Track Classic. The Bobcats recorded one event win and improved five top-10 program marks across both meets.
These performances highlight a strong start to the outdoor season for Montana State, with athletes advancing to finals and setting personal bests in several events.
Dale Kennedy Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lyle Weese said, “We had a big first day with some great performances at Stanford and San Francisco State. Claire Rutherford was the very first competitor of the day for our team and really set the tone with a giant personal record in the 5k at San Francisco State. The sprints, jumps, and throws kept the team momentum going. The women’s pole vault was certainly a highlight of this with Tatum Richards and Libby Hanson finishing second and third overall with good marks. Tilde [Bjerager] and Caroline [Hawkes] put up outstanding performances in the 400 hurdles and 400. Mario Oblad had a breakthrough performance in the 1500 as he stepped up from his typical racing 800-meter racing distance. The day finished with a big PR and likely West Region qualifying mark from Madi Siana in the 10k.”
Sydney Brewster continued her undefeated streak during regular-season shot put events by winning at Stanford with a throw of 17 meters (55 feet, 9.25 inches), securing victory by more than two meters over her competitors. In other highlights, Tilde Bjerager advanced to finals in both hurdles events while improving her school standing to third all-time in the 100-meter hurdles.
At San Francisco’s Mike Fanelli Track Classic, Claire Rutherford placed second in the women’s 5,000 meters while moving into fourth place on Montana State’s all-time list for that event. Other notable results included Hannah Perrin’s eighth-place finish (and fifth-best time ever for MSU) in steeplechase; Rob McManus taking sixth place among men; strong pole vault results from Richards (second) and Hansen (third); Caroline Hawkes’ runner-up finish just shy of program records; sprint advances by Jaeden Wolff, Peyton Garrison, Xavier Simpson; Mario Oblad’s third-place debut at 1,500 meters; Ben Saelens’ top-10 steeplechase finish; field event placements by Matt Furdyk (discus), Jenavieve Lynch/Brewster (hammer), Maggie Hillis/Talon Holmquist/Easton Hatleberg/Ben Parks (shot put/discus/hammer); Nash Coley’s fifth place in hurdles.
Montana State resumes competition Saturday at both venues beginning mid-morning through afternoon sessions.
