The Retort

Track and Field Opens Indoor Season in Record Fashion

Thu February 4th, 2010 by MSUB Athletics For The Retort

It was the beginning of a new age in Montana State University Billings track and field history Thursday afternoon at the Black Hills State Winter Classic in Spearfish, South Dakota. With a larger squad than the past few seasons, MSUB runners and field specialists broke numerous school records.

“We competed very well and looked strong for it being the first meet of the season,” said head coach Dave Coppock. “Our sprinters had a great day, breaking a lot of the school records, and being able to field some participants in events we’ve never had before shows the growth and progress of our program. It was good to see our throwers and distance runners have good showings as well.”

Brandon Pearce paced the men’s team with a second place finish in the 200 meters with a 23.68 and recorded the second fastest time in the 60 meter preliminaries (7.20), but false started in the finals. Pearce’s time in the 60 meters was not only a school record, but qualified him for the GNAC Indoor Championships on a provisional time.

Dylan Solberg set a new record in the 60 meter hurdles with a 9.18 which placed him third in the finals. Rusty Ewing set three records in the long jump (20’8 ½”), high jump with a cleared jump of 5’10 ½”, and the triple jump (42’-¼”), placing third in two of the events and fourth in one.

In all, the men’s team set seven school records and qualified with provisional marks in seven events. Qualifying with Pearce were Solberg, Ewing, Branden Martinez, Tanner Rottrup, and Nick Wilson.

On the women’s side, three records fell while eight marks qualified student-athletes for the GNAC Indoor Championships. Justin Simons set a qualifying mark in the 60 meter dash with a third place finish in the finals in a time of 8.29 seconds. Britney Derhak barely missed the qualifying mark with an 8.36, finishing in fourth in the finals.

Erika Halle had one of the best results for the women, taking second in the 200 meters with a 26.89, also a qualifying mark, finishing just ahead of Simons in third (27.12). Also qualifying were Whitney Mickelson (mile), Kayla Neumiller (high jump), Elissa Adams (triple jump), and Kelsee Clark and Brook Berg (shot put). Adams and Neumiller each set records in their events while Emili Crowder set the pole vault record at 8’0”.

The track and field team will be back on the track Saturday, December 12, at Chadron State for the Chadron State Shootout.