Spinti & Women’s 4x800-Meter Relay Team Hits ‘B’ Standard; Morris Improves on NAIA-Best Mark in Pole Vault
By: Brandon Stinson: Sports Information & Media Coordinator
BILLINGS, Mont.- Competing in three different meets over a two-day span, Rocky Track and Field saw strong efforts, including ‘B’ Standard times for John Spinti and the Battlin’ Bear 4×800-meter relay team, while freshman Keenan Morris improved his NAIA-leading mark in the pole vault.
Men's Notable Results
At the Trudnowski Open in Helena on Saturday, John Spinti earned a ‘B’ Standard mark in the 10,000 meters, turning in a time of 31:18.87, altitude-adjusting to a time of 30:36.72, the seventh-best time in the NAIA this season and the second-fastest time in program history. Corbyn Svec followed in second place with a time of 31:50.27, a personal best.
Keenan Morris improved on his NAIA-leading mark in the pole vault, clearing 5.05 meters (16-06.75) to win the event, surpassing the program record he set two weeks ago in Butte. The freshman also won the high jump event, clearing 1.91 meters (06-03.25), the fourth-best mark in program history.
Logan Hughes earned first place in the hammer throw with a mark of 54.12 meters (177-07) to break his own school record. He also finished second in the shot put with a toss of 13.80 meters (45-03.5).
The Rocky Men’s 4×100-meter relay team set a new program record for the third time this season, as Trevor Walter, Drifter Skillicorn, Jack Phelps, and Ryan LaMere won the event with a time of 42.39 seconds.
Mason Meier broke the program record in the javelin for the fourth time this season, tossing 55.16 meters (181-00) to take second overall.
Drifter Skillicorn won the 400 meters with a time of 50.24, a personal best for the senior and the fastest time by a Battlin’ Bear since 2019. He also won the long jump with a mark of 6.64 meters (21-09.25).
Ryan LaMere won the 100-meters with a time of 10.99 seconds, tying for the eighth-best time in program history.
Raynor Ranum won the shot put with a mark of 15.90 meters (52-02), the second-best mark in program history, while also earning second place in the discus, tossing the third-best mark in program history at 45.27 meters (148-06).
Rocky went 1-2-3 in the 1,500 meters, with Matthew Conrad (4:04.39) taking the victory, followed by Caleb Tomac (4:06.05) and Justin Glass (4:06.23).
The Battlin’ Bear 4×400-meter relay team of Aiden Lantis, Ryan LaMere, Drifter Skillicorn, and Jack Phelps won their event with a time of 3:32.54.
The Rocky Men won the dual meet with MSU Billings, totaling 71 team points.
Women's Notable Results
The Battlin’ Bear 4×800 meter relay team of Kallyn Wilkins, Jayden Woodland, Rylie Schoenfeld, and Maya Pearcy earned a ‘B’ Standard qualifying time, winning the event with a time of 9:22.91. The time ranks fifth-fastest in program history and is the fifth-best in the NAIA this season.
Charlize Davis won the 100-meters with a time of 12.61 seconds, as well as the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.27 seconds. Her time in the 100 was a new personal best, ranking as the seventh-fastest time in program history.
Brooke Wirkkala won the high jump, clearing 1.61 meters (5-03.25) and the long jump with a mark of 5.57 meters (18-03.25). Both marks ranked inside the top five in program history.
Hannah Christman earned first place in the pole vault, clearing 3.05 meters, a season-best for the junior.
Hadley Jones recorded the fourth-best mark in program history in the javelin, tossing 37.03 meters (121-06) to take third overall.
The Battlin’ Bear women totaled 35 team points, taking second in the dual with MSU Billings.
Blue Hawk Games (Men's Decathlon Conference Championships)
The first day of the Frontier Conference Championships for the multis event was underway on Sunday in Dickinson, North Dakota. The Battlin’ Bears sent two participants, both on the men’s side. Sophomore Abram King finished the day in 10th overall, featuring a fifth-place finish in the shot put (11.61m) and a seventh-place result in the 400-meter (55.31). Freshman Travis Caton ended the day in 14th overall, with his highlight of the first day being a tenth-place finish in the shot put (10.24m).
They will finish the competition on Monday morning with the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500 meters.
