Peterson wins GNAC title with photo finish in the mile

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 20, 2016 Peterson wins photo finish in the men’s miles for GNAC title MSUB Track and Field on Facebook GNAC Indoor Championship Results GNAC Men’s Mile Video

Senior Robert Peterson won a photo finish to take the GNAC title in the men’s mile.

After running the anchor leg in the men’s DMR yesterday, on Day 2 of the indoor conference championships, senior Robert Peterson earns a second GNAC title in the men’s mile during a photo finish at the line.

NAMPA, Idaho. – Senior Robert Peterson added a second Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championship title this season with a .01 second photo finish win in the men’s mile during Day 2 of the indoor conference meet hosted

by Northwest Nazarene University at the Ford Sports Center - Johnson’s Track Saturday.

The Billings, Mont., native and Skyview High School graduate began the morning with the men’s mile. On the last lap, Peterson and Western Oregon’s David Ribich were locked in a battle coming down the straightaway. At the line,

Peterson stretched out, edging Ribich for the title 4:10.13 to 4:10.14. The senior also lowered the MSUB school record, which he held, by .6 seconds and set a new meet record in the process.

Three hours later, Peterson took to the track for the second time during the day and earned his third all-conference honor of the meet with a third place result in the 3,000 meters, crossing the finish line in 8:33.39. For the 2016 conference meet, Peterson finished with a hand in 26 of the total 30 MSUB points.

“Robert is really peaking at the right time,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “He had some really, really good races this weekend. To come back after running the DMR yesterday and win the mile in a photo-finish is a great accomplishment. And then to turn around and finish with another all-conference result in the 3,000 meters is exceptional. He had to come back again in a race, and really in the last couple of laps had to overtake several runners to finish third.”

Adding to the Yellowjacket point total today was freshman Brady Ostermiller. The thrower from Shepherd, Mont., finished fifth in the men’s shot put with a season’s best mark of 14-5.25 for four team points.

“Brady was a really good surprise,” Coppock commented. “We thought he might be able to sneak into the scoring at eighth place, but for him as a freshman to finish fifth is great. He deserves a lot of credit for his efforts.”

On the women’s team, senior Della Lyle added to the MSUB point total. Yesterday, Lyle placed fourth in the women’s 5,000 meters, shattering the MSUB school record with a finish of 17:41.12. Today, Lyle placed eighth in the women’s 3,000 meter race smashing another MSUB record with a season’s best time of 10:07.26.

“Della scored six points for MSUB in the distance events which is so strong in the GNAC,” Coppock said. “She ran two really smart races at the meet where she was able to pace herself well and run really relaxed. It was a great effort on her part for the team.”

“Overall, both teams really came through at the meet,” Coppock continued. “Almost everyone ran a season or personal best. We scored more points on paper than going in and exceeded expectations, so everyone was able to come through at the right time.”

MSUB Men’s Team Point Total: Event Name Distance Medley Relay Josh Panasuk, Landon Polkow, Liam McKay, Robert Peterson Mile Robert Peterson 3,000 meters Robert Peterson Shot Put Brady Ostermiller MSUB Women’s Team Point Total: Event Name 5,000 meters Della Lyle Pole Vault Amanda Nichols Distance Medley Relay Brielle Davis, Janessa Williams, Della Lyle, Rio Frame 3,000 meters Della Lyle

Time / Mark 10:06.41*

Place (Points) 1st (10)

4:10.13* 8:33.39 47' 5.25"

1st (10) 3rd (6) 5th (4)

Time / Mark 17:41.12* 10' 2.50" 12:46.88

Place (Points) 4th (5) 6th (3) 7th (2)

10:07.26*

8th (1)

*MSUB school record Alaska Anchorage won the team titles on both the men’s and women’s sides with an equal amount of points at 164.

From the Seawolves’ team, Karolin Anders was awarded the Most Outstanding Athlete, while Northwest Nazarene’s Payton Lewis earned the same title for the men.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championships Final: Men's Team Scores: Alaska Anchorage 164, Western Oregon 93, Western Washington 92, Northwest Nazarene 77, Concordia 64, Central Washington 63, Simon Fraser 46, Montana State Billings 30, Saint Martin's 24, Seattle Pacific 12.

Women's Team Scores: Alaska Anchorage 164, Seattle Pacific 136, Simon Fraser 82.5, Western Washington 64.5, Concordia 59, Central Washington 59, Northwest Nazarene 36, Western Oregon 29, Saint Martin's 25, Montana State Billings 11.

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--