The Montana State University track and field team received three Big Sky Athlete of the Week honors after a strong showing at the Bobcat Challenge, according to an announcement from the conference office.
Hailey Coey was recognized as Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. She broke her own school and conference long jump record for a second consecutive meet. The women’s 4×400-meter relay team—Tilde Bjerager, Caroline Hawkes, Peyton Garrison, and Giulia Gandolfi—earned Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors by setting a new school record during their win on Saturday. Sam Ells was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after his victory in the men’s mile event.
So far this season, Montana State has collected four Big Sky weekly awards. Three were awarded this week, while Coey previously earned one after another record-setting long jump at the Bobcat PReview on December 4.
Coey set new school and conference records in the long jump at the Bobcat Challenge with a leap of 6.47 meters (21 feet, 2.75 inches) on her final attempt. This performance moved her to fifth place nationally in NCAA rankings for that event this season. She also established a new school record in the triple jump with a mark of 12.75 meters (41-10).
The women’s 4x400m relay team recorded a converted time of 3:36.91 to secure first place in Bozeman, improving upon Montana State’s previous indoor school record by nearly one and a half seconds. Their result ranks them sixteenth nationally in NCAA standings for this season and marked their debut race as a group.
Ells won his first indoor mile race of the season with a converted time of 3:58.01, leading Montana State athletes who finished first and second while three placed among the top five overall. This follows Ells’ All-Big Sky cross country campaign during fall.
Montana State continues its indoor schedule at the Stacy Dragila Invite on January 30 at ICCU Dome in Pocatello, Idaho, before returning home for the Carignan Classic on February 6.
For more information about Montana State athletics or to follow updates from track & field events, visit msubobcats.com or follow @MSUBobcatsTFXC on Twitter and Instagram.
