Montana State athletes prepared, excited for NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

BOZEMAN — The NCAA outdoor championships for track and field commence Wednesday, with a handful of Montana State athletes headed Hayward field in Eugene, Ore., to compete on the national stage.

The list of MSU qualifiers is as follows:

• Hailey Coey, long jump
• Harvey Cramb, 1,500 meters
• Rob McManus, 3,000-meter steeplechase
• Olivia Lewis, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes and Peyton Garrison, 4x400m relay

The Bobcat women's team made history as Coey and the 4x400m relay team became the first from the program to represent in their respective event at nationals.

"It means a lot," Coey said. "I’m super honored to be able to represent MSU on a national stage, especially being the first long jumper in school history, super excited and I hope I do well job representing us."

"Fortunately, we have a really close four-by-four team, we’re together every single day," Garrison said. "We show up to the track, we work together, we got out and eat together, we spend so much time, and I think that helps a lot."

The relay team made it to nationals in dramatic fashion, as they were the final team to punch their ticket on the last day. The team who initially finished in front of Bobcats in the event — Northern Arizona — was ultimately disqualified to give MSU a berth.

The Bobcats waited after a protest was filed and eventually the results were made official as Lewis, Gandolfi, Hawkes and Garrison were awarded a top-12 finish.

"At first we were for sure sad because we thought we were the last team out, and then a couple of us girls looked up at the TV, and the TV had said that we had made it," Garrison explained. "Unfortunately, the team that got kicked out was of course another Big Sky school, and of course we wanted them to make it, but fortunately we made it."

On the men’s team, McManus will be headed to his third outdoor nationals in his signature event, the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He reflected on how he’s grown since the first time on this stage.

"I think there was a little uncertainty to where I fit in at the national stage, and then last year getting the big Q at regionals, making the national meet, I think I felt a lot more secure," he said. "This year, just coming back again, I think I feel even more confident in myself and my ability. I’ve run PRs this season, so I’m just excited to get back.”

To round out the qualifiers, sophomore Cramb earned his first berth to outdoor nationals in the 1,500 meters.

"Oh it’s such an honor, and to do it like you said, my sophomore year is a great opportunity, and to be there and put your name with some of the best in the country is pretty awesome," Cramb explained. "I’m pretty excited, I mean this is the sort of thing you dream of when you think about coming to the NCAA, and so to get the opportunity, I’m really pumped about it."

For the full schedule of events at the meet, click here.