MSUB Signs Pair of MT Track Athletes (6/13/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State University Billings track and cross-country coach Dave Coppock announced Wednesday that two more Montana athletes have signed national letters of intent to compete for the Yellowjackets.  Cody Martinez of Winnett and Ryan Ceynar of Glendive will join the Yellowjackets as freshmen in the fall.  MSU Billings announced the addition of indoor and outdoor track and field in April, and Coppock has been building his rosters at a rapid pace since then.

The 6-foot-2 Martinez was a three-sport letterman at Winnett High School.  In addition to track and field, he lettered in basketball and football.  As a senior he high jumped 6’2”, long jumped 19’11”, and triple jumped 39’10”.  His fastest 100-meters time was 11.25 and his top 200 meters time was 23.35.  Winnett’s five-man track team placed second in the district meet and sixth at the divisional.

“Cody is a great all-around athlete and could play about any sport,” said Coppock.  “He’s a very good sprinter and is competitive in all the jumps, so I can see him competing in any number of events in track next year.  I know there were meets where he competed in five events and scored the bulk of his team’s points.  We’ve even talked about running cross-country this fall, which I think will help develop his overall strength and endurance.”

Ceynar is a 6-1 distance runner who lettered three times in cross-country and three times in track at Dawson County High School.  He was a three-time all-conference performer in track and a two-time all-conference runner in cross-country.  He posted a 4:29 1,600-meters time as a senior.  His fastest cross-country time was 15:55.

“Ryan made a big improvement this year in track and performed very well at the state meet with fifth place finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters,” said Coppock.  “He got his mile time down into the 4:20’s and should be competitive next year in track as he continues to develop.  He’s the second distance runner we’ve signed from Glendive along with teammate Kelley Miller, who will help build up the men’s cross country program as well.”