Peterson wins 800 meters at Montana Open in record-setting time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu April 30, 2016 Peterson wins 800 meters at Montana Open in record-setting time MSUB Track and Field on Facebook | MSUB Track and Field on ISSUU

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Senior Robert Peterson won the men’s 800 meter race at the Montana Open in a school record time of 1:53.18.

In just his second time competing in the event, senior Robert Peterson breaks the MSUB school record in the men’s 800 meter race.

MISSOULA, Mont. – Against Division I competition from host Montana and Montana State at the Montana Open in Missoula, Mont., at Dornblaser Field, MSU Billings senior Robert Peterson won the men’s 800 meters in a MSUB record time of 1:53.18. The Billings, Mont., native also won the 3,000 meter steeplechase, crossing the finish line in 9:28.07, Saturday.

“Overall we had a great meet here against tough competition from Montana, Montana State, Carroll, and Great Falls,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “Robert won the 800 meters in a school record time in only his second time competing in the event. He also won the steeplechase, so a really good day for Robert.”

Peterson bested the 2014 time from the previous record-holder Drew Galahan of 1:55.09. Peterson’s time in the 800 meters is the ninth fastest time in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this season.

Sophomore Jorey Egeland in 9:46.73 and freshman Tyus Mendoza in 10:11.52 ran personal bests in the steeplechase behind Peterson placing third and seventh respectively.

Sophomore Nate Vanderby was the runner-up in the men’s 400 meters in 49.78. Just behind him, senior Cameron Stanek placed fourth in 52.45.

Freshman Ivan Colmenero finished seventh in the men’s 5,000 meter race in a personal best time of 15:51.73, which places him in the GNAC’s top-25 this season.

Sprinter Blair Street finished fifth in both the 100 meter race in 12.64 and 200 meter race in 26.09.

Freshman and St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Day, Josey Smiedala competed in the women’s 800 meters for the first time in her career, placing eighth on the day in 2:19.52. Smiedala’s time sets her at 20th in the GNAC. Another freshman, Janessa Williams, ran 1:06.70 for a fifth-place result in the 400 meter women’s hurdles, just off the MSU Billings school record and the 18th best time in the conference this season. Williams finished sixth in the 200 meter hurdles in 16.38.

Jinise Trueblood placed fifth in the women’s 5,000 meters in 20:20.66.

The MSUB women’s 4x400 relay team dropped their season time by almost 10 seconds. The team consisting of Shaniah Schwend, Williams, Bessie Gondwe, and Smiedala crossed the finish line in 4:09.92.

In the men’s throws, Nels Flanagan wound-up with two fourth place results. In the hammer throw, Flanagan completed a throw of 152 feet and 1 inch. In the discus, Flanagan launched a throw of 143 feet and 11 inches. Brady Ostermiller placed fifth in the shot put, completing a throw of 46 feet and 7.25 inches. In the discus, Ostermiller was sixth with a throw of 138 feet and 8 inches.

Austin Lindquist placed fourth in the men’s long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 8 inches. Quincy Wittman finished second in the men’s triple jump at 39 feet and 1 inch.

Note: The women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase laps were miscounted, consequently the results were deemed to be irrelevant. The MSUB record-holder in that event, Della Lyle, will have one more chance this season to compete in the event before the conference championships. The MSUB record-holder in the men’s 400 meter hurdles, Landon Polkow, pulled up 1/3 of the way through the race with an injury.

NEXT UP: Montana State University Billings returns to Missoula next Friday May 6, for the Tom Gage Classic. That meet will be the final regular season competition before the GNAC Championships taking place May 13-14.

“We are really looking forward to returning to Missoula next Friday,” Coppock said. “All of our athletes continue to make progress and they have one more week to improve on their times and marks before the conference championships in two weeks.”

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