News Summary
The Montana State women’s 4×400 meter relay team has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time in history. Achieving a remarkable time of 3:34.31, the team initially thought they missed qualification but earned their spot due to a disqualification of a competing team. This historic milestone, bolstered by Caroline Hawkes’ exceptional performance, symbolizes the team’s continued growth as they prepare for the championships in Eugene, Oregon, alongside other Montana State athletes.
College Station, Texas – The Montana State track and field team made history recently, with the women’s 4×400 meter relay team qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time ever. The team achieved this milestone during the NCAA West First Rounds held in College Station, Texas, marking a significant moment for the Bobcats.
The relay team composed of Olivia Lewis, Peyton Garrison, Giulia Gandolfi, and Caroline Hawkes clocked a remarkable time of 3:34.31, securing the second-fastest time in Montana State’s history. Initially, the team believed they had placed 13th and were just shy of qualifying. However, a subsequent disqualification of a team that had finished ahead of them opened the door for the Bobcats, confirming their place in the NCAA Championships after a tense wait for the final results.
Caroline Hawkes made significant contributions to the team’s performance, especially as the anchor runner. Her impressive split of 51.98 seconds helped propel the team from seventh to fourth place in their heat. Montana State’s relay team notably outperformed some of the most prestigious collegiate track teams, finishing ahead of Texas, Oklahoma State, Stanford, and BYU.
The qualification not only highlights the relay team’s achievement but also signals that multiple entries for the women’s side of Montana State’s track and field program will take place at the NCAA Championships. This will be the fourth occasion in the program’s history that includes a number of participants at the national level, with previous instances occurring in 2006, 2012, and 2015.
Alongside the relay team’s accomplishment, Hailey Coey qualified for nationals in the long jump, bringing the total number of Montana State athletes headed to the NCAA Championships to seven. These athletes, all female, will be representing their school in various events scheduled to take place from June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.
This relay achievement is part of what has been an extraordinary season for the women’s track team. Other notable performances included Grace Gilbreth, a senior distance runner, who concluded her career at the regional meet by finishing 31st in the steeplechase, earning two All-Big Sky honors and securing bronze medals throughout her tenure. Additionally, Kyla Christopher-Moody, a graduate student, finished 38th in the 5,000 meters and set four school records over the course of the season.
Overall, this marks the fourth consecutive year that Montana State has sent at least three qualifiers to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, underscoring the growth and potential of the program.
Live coverage of the NCAA West First Rounds results will be available on ESPN+ during the competition days, allowing fans to follow along with the Bobcats’ outstanding journey.
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