Day 4: Women Finish Second, Men Third at Outdoor Championships

Saturday, May 16

Cheney, WA

Montana State University

Big Sky Outdoor Championships

Heather Demorest and Cristian Soratos

Photo by: Trev Mozingo

Day 4: Women Finish Second, Men Third at Outdoor Championships

5/16/2015 10:53:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

By: Jordan Simkins

TEAM RESULTS
Saturday Results:
RUNNING EVENT RESULTS | FIELD EVENT RESULTS
Friday Results:
RUNNING EVENT RESULTS | FIELD EVENT RESULTS

The Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships came down to the wire, as Montana State's women's team was narrowly edged out by Sacramento State. The Bobcat's totaled 142.20 over four days of competition and the 2015 conference championships earned 145.90. The men took third place with 80 total points, behind Northern Arizona and Sacramento State, who tied for the title.

After day four, the women's side totaled five first place finishes and found their way into the top eight on 25 occasions with 12 podium finishes. The men's side earned 15 top eight spots, three gold medals and five top three spots at the championships. Heather Demorest and Cristian Soratos were named the BSC championship meet's Most Valuable Athletes for earning the most individual points.

Demorest, Iris Hardarson, Chantel Jaeger, Carley McCutchen, Danielle Muri, Josephine Petruska, Christie Schiel, Paige Squire, Casey Teska and Kristi VandeBergh earned All-Big Sky honors for the women and Ty Bermes, Sean Ferriter, Tanner Gambill and Cristian Soratos for the men.

Demorest led all female competitors tallying 28 points and two first place finishes. The senior won the 3000-meter steeplechase on Friday and found her way back on top in the 5000 with a time of 17:05.48. She placed second in the 1500, finishing in 4:25. 48.

With a career-high of 58.16 in the 400-meter hurdles, Squire won the event and broke the Roos Field record. The Corvallis, MT native finished third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.16. McCutchen added two more points for the team, placing seventh in the event, crossing the finish line in 14.49.

Schiel ran the 800 in 2:10.76, a personal-best and first place finish. Kaylee Schmitz placed seventh in 2:14. 13.

In the 400, three Bobcat's qualified for the finals, with Jaeger leading the way with a second place finish. Jaeger finished in 53.96, with Petruska finishing fifth (55.09) and Hardarson placing seventh (56.10). Jaeger just missed the podium in the 200, finishing fourth with a time of 24.47.

The 4x400 relay was a heartbreaking finish for the women, finishing .002 seconds behind Sacramento State. The team ran the fastest they have all season with a time of 3:41.076.

Earning eight team points, Kristi VandeBergh earned a personal-best of 156-05 in the discus. Alisa Gilchrist tied for fifth in the high jump and Carley Haeffner placed seventh, both clearing heights of 5-05.75.

Soratos won the 800 and 1500 with times of 1:49.22 and 3:43.97 and placed eighth in the 5000 (14:31.52). Soratos earned the most points out of all male competitors with 24 total points. Michael Asay placed sixth in the 1500 with a time of 3:50.57.

Mason Storm finished seventh in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.56. Mitchel Horning also found his way into the finals and placed seventh in the 100 (10.88). Rory Bauer placed eighth in the 400, crossing the finish line in 49.77.

Senior Ryan Kropp cleared a height of 15-07.75 to finish seventh in the pole vault.

"I'm proud of both teams for their efforts over the last four days," head coach Dale Kennedy said. "We may not have come out on top, but they put forth a great effort and work extremely hard to finish the way they did. The team is going to have big goals and even bigger shoes to fill next year."