Montana State Track Team Shatters Records at Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT, Calif. — The Montana State University track and field team showcased their remarkable talent by breaking multiple school records during an exhilarating weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays. Notably, the women’s 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles, and 4×400-meter relay records were all eclipsed, marking a momentous conclusion to their California trip on Saturday.

Record-Setting Performances

Caroline Hawkes emerged as the star of the meet, obliterating a nearly three-decade-old school record in the 400-meter dash. Her astounding time of 52.64 seconds not only secured her the 13th position in the elite event but also shattered Christine Otte’s long-standing record of 53.05 seconds, which had been set in 1997. Hawkes didn’t stop there; she also set new benchmarks in the 200-meter and 4×100-meter events earlier in the week, accumulating a total of four record-breaking performances over the weekend.

Tilde Bjerager’s Exceptional Weekend

Tilde Bjerager continued the record-breaking momentum by enhancing her own mark in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 57.12 seconds and securing sixth place in the elite category. This performance elevated her to 21st in the NCAA rankings for the event this season. Additionally, Bjerager played a crucial role in the 4×400-meter relay team alongside Peyton Garrison and Giulia Gandolfi, as they collectively broke the school’s 4×400-meter record for the second consecutive week with a time of 3:33.25.

Men’s and Women’s Relay Success

The men’s 4×400-meter relay team also made history, clocking in at 3:09.63, the third-fastest time in Montana State’s history. Noah Barbery, Jett Grundy, Peyton Nelson, and Nash Coley contributed to this stellar performance, finishing fifth in an elite field and solidifying their positions in the program’s record books.

Outstanding Field Performances

The pole vault competitors demonstrated their prowess at the Beach Invitational, where Tatum Richards and Libby Hansen both achieved significant personal milestones. Richards improved her No. 2 mark in Montana State history with a clearance of 4.22 meters, while Hansen elevated her standing to eighth in the program’s records with her performance.

For the men’s team, Bob Hartley and Jordan Lasher showcased their skills in the pole vault as well, both clearing 5.10 meters, which tied them for eighth and eleventh place. Hartley’s effort matched his own No. 9 record in program history.

Outstanding 1,500m Performances

Sydney Brewster proved her mettle in the shot put, finishing second in Long Beach with a throw of 16.96 meters on her opening attempt. Meanwhile, Kalei Moravitz made her mark in the 1,500-meter event at the Bryan Clay Invitational, recording a time of 4:25.96 to become the ninth-fastest performer in Montana State history.

In a day filled with personal bests, Rob McManus logged the fastest time on the men’s side of the 1,500m, finishing in 3:42.36 and placing 26th in the invite.

Upcoming Events

After a successful showing in California, the Bobcats will take a brief respite from competition. They will next compete at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho, on May 1-2, marking the final regular-season road meet for the 2025-26 campaign.

Fans can catch detailed results from the Mt. SAC Relays here, results from the Beach Invitational here, and results from the Bryan Clay Invitational here.