January 25, 2008

Yellowjacket Indoor Track and Field Squads Open at Montana State This Weekend

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams will open the 2008 season at the Montana State Open at MSU Bozeman beginning Friday evening.  The meet will be at the Brick Breeden Field House and the events are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

“This is the first meet we’ve had since the Black Hills State Fall Classic back in early December and we have had quite a layoff over the long holiday break,” head coach Dave Coppock said.  “We’ll be going into this meet looking to get some good marks and to get individuals ranked in the GNAC standings.  Our goal is to get as many people qualified for the conference championships Feb. 18 in Nampa, Idaho.”

In addition to MSUB, Division I schools Montana and Montana State will be competing as will Division II member University of Mary.

The Yellowjacket men’s and women’s teams are led by freshmen Nathan Diede (Lambert, Mont.) in sprints and Lexi Halvorson (Billings, Mont.) in throws.  Diede has the fourth-best time in the 200 meters and Halvorson is ranked second in the conference in the women’s shot put after the first meet.  Junior middle-distance runner Micah Merrill-Johnson (Salt Lake City, Utah) looks competitive in the 800 meters and the mile, as well.

“We are a little short-handed in most events,” Coppock added.  “We have a good group of sprinters on the men’s side and distance runners on the women’s team.  This weekend will be a good chance to get some decent marks with a banked track as it helps the times compared with a flat 200 meter oval.”