(Editor’s note: University of Montana media release)
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Montana track & field program added multiple athletes to its roster this spring, with 10 prep stars signing a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Grizzlies and another transferring to Missoula. The spring signing period began in April and lasted through May.
The new signees add to a talented group of athletes who joined the program in November, six of which hail from the state of Montana.
“It’s always nice to continue to get student-athletes signed at this time of the year, and we’re continuing to look at more,” head coach Brian Schweyen said. “I think we have a lot of quality student-athletes that are going to help us.”
The future of the Montana track & field program is loaded with talent. The Grizzlies return 14 of the 16 point-scorers from this year’s outdoor championships, including both individual champions and all four NCAA Regionals qualifiers. For some of the new signees, they will learn from the veterans on roster, honing their craft to fill big shoes down the road. For others, though, their turn could be sooner rather than later.
“If you can compete you can compete,” Schweyen said. “In track & field, nobody’s competing for a starting position and nobody’s competing for playing time. Everyone is battling for performances and marks, so everyone has the same opportunity.”
Montana’s 11 new signees are…
Peterson Bohannon / Sprints/Jumps / Yakima, Wash.
Is a graduate of LaSalle High School in Washington… Holds school records in the long jump, triple jump and 400 meters… As a senior, won individual district and state titles in the 200 meters and 400 meters… Is interested in studying business administration.
Personal Bests
100m: 11.42
200m: 22.44
400m: 48.71
800m: 2:15.98
1,600m: 5:14.18
High jump: 5-4
Long jump: 22-0
Triple jump: 42-3.5
Schweyen on Bohannon: “He’s a pretty new track & field athlete, but I think he’s a big talent. He’s going to be a really good quarter-miler and jumper and has a lot of potential.”
Kendra Bottenberg / Javelin / Chehalis, Wash.
Is a graduate of W.F. West High School in Washington… Won a 2018 state title in the javelin… Won four total district championships in the javelin and shot put.
Personal Bests
200m: 34.14
Shot put: 36-5.5
Discus: 109-4
Javelin: 139-11
Pole vault: 6-0
Schweyen on Bottenberg: “She has a really solid year. I think she’s going to fit in really well and be in the mix right away with our strong javelin group.”
Chloe Cosgrove / Distance / Fall City, Wash.
Is a graduate of Mount Si High School in Washington… Qualified for state every season, earning all-league honors as well… She’s a two-time captain and was her cross country team’s MVP as a senior… Track team had an undefeated regular season in 2015, winning a league championship and placing third at state… Is interested in studying biology with an emphasis in pre-med.
Personal Bests
400m: 1:06.24
800m: 2:26.5
1,500m: 4:57.03
1,600m: 5:13.05
1 mile: 5:19.12
3,200m: 11:22.43
100m hurdles: 20.48
Vicky Pounds on Cosgrove: “In Chloe I see a quiet leader. She’s serious about running and progressing, and I think that will serve her well as she gets to this next level.”
Abby Harmon / Sprints / Helena, Mont.
Is a graduate of Helena Capital in Montana… Placed in the top eight at state in the 400 meters, 300-meter hurdles (twice), 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay.
Personal Bests
200m: 28.38
400m: 1:00.54
800m: 2:27.56
300m hurdles: 44.96
Schweyen on Harmon: “Abby is a hurdler who has the potential to develop into a pretty darn good athlete.”
Brooke Kearns / Throws / Missoula, Mont.
Is a graduate of Big Sky High School… Is a two-time state champion in the discus, throwing a PR of 157-0 in her final meet… Also won a divisional title in the event… Twice competed at state in the shot put, placing third in 2018… Younger sister of current Griz Hannah Kearns
Personal Bests
100m: 13.93
200m: 29.59
Shot put: 38-11.5
Discus: 157-0
Javelin: 60-2
High jump: 4-7
Long jump: 14-7
Schweyen on Kearns: “Brooke just set the all-class state record in the discus. She put a lot of distance on her discus from beginning to end this year, and she’ll come in and be an immediate impact.”
Dylan Kipp / Throws / New London, Ohio
Accepted a scholarship after spending his first two seasons at Ashland University in Ohio… Earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in 2017… Had a top javelin throw of 196-8 and a height of 5-9 in the high jump… In high school, cleared 6-2 in the high jump and ran the 110-meter hurdles in 16.67 seconds.
Schweyen on Kipp: “Dylan is a javelin thrower who had a solid two years and will now come in and help us right away. He’ll fit in nicely with our group.”
Emma Normand / Sprints / Bend, Ore.
Is a graduate of Summit High School in Oregon… Is a two-time Intermountain Conference champion in the 200 meters, also winning a title in 2017 in the 4×100-meter relay… Twice placed in the top three in the 100 meters… During her senior season, placed runner-up at state in both the 100 meters and 200 meters… Won a state title with her relay team in 2017… Helped the Storm to four conference and state titles… Was team captain as a junior and senior… Father, Gari, and uncle, Denny, competed in track at Montana… Intends to study psychology.
Personal Bests
100m: 12.43
200m: 25.26
Schweyen on Normand: “She came on strong at the end of the year and popped some nice marks that got us really excited. I anticipate her to come in and continue to do what she did this spring.”
Morgan Radtke / Jumps / Drummond, Mont.
Is a graduate of Drummond High School… Won a Montana Class AA-C state title in the long jump and triple jump and placed third in the high jump… Finished in the top three in the high jump as a sophomore, junior and senior… As a senior, won a Weber B and C divisional title in the high jump and triple jump.
Personal Bests
200m: 28.54
400m: 1:06.74
800m: 2:37.08
300m hurdles: 53.11
Javelin: 70-6
High jump: 5-4
Long jump: 17-6.25
Triple jump: 37-6.5
Schweyen on Radtke: “She did a little bit of everything. High jump of 5-4, decent long jump, really good triple jump . . . She’s a good athlete and could possibly be a heptathlete.”
Noah Ramirez / Throws / Milwaukee, Ore.
Is a graduate of Milwaukie High School in Oregon… As a senior in 2018 finished runner-up at state in both the shot put and discus… Won a NWOC district title in the shot put as a junior.
Personal Bests
100m: 12.34
Shot put: 59-4.5
Discus: 169-2
Javelin: 114-8
Schweyen on Ramirez: “He’s a very good thrower. He can throw the shot put and discus, and I think he could do the hammer as well. He could be a triple threat, kind of like Brent Yeakey.”
Erica Simison / Distance / Yakima Wash.
Is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Washington… Earned all-league honors all four seasons, helping her team to four cross country district championships… Holds school records in the 1,500 meters and 2,000-meter steeplechase… Won District 6 championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters as a senior, placing in the top four at state in both events… Her older brother, Bryan, competed in track and cross country at New Mexico State University… Is a member of the National Honor Society… Is interested in studying exercise science.
Personal Bests:
200m: 28.62
400m: 1:02.06
800m: 2:20.24
1,500m: 4:38.78
1,600m: 4:55.48
1 mile: 5:00.56
2,000m: 7:27.92
3,000m: 10:48.19
3,200m: 10:35.65
Schweyen on Simison: “She had an incredible end to her season. She started putting up some huge, fantastic times. She’ll be an immediate impact for us.”
Hannah Wylie / Distance / Crown Point, Ind.
Is a graduate of Crown Point High School in Indiana… Is a two-time all-state athlete, earning team MVP honors five times… Earned two regional championships in cross country and one in track… Comes from an athletic family, including four relatives who competed athletically at Purdue and another at Indiana… Is a summa cum laude honor-roll student… Is interested in studying biochemistry with a pre-veterinary focus.
Personal Bests
800m: 2:45.64
1,600: 5:10.34
1 mile: 5:48.47
3,200m: 11:15.88
5,000: 18:18
Vicky Pounds on Wylie: “Hannah is super friendly and I think has untapped potential. She’s very determined and I think will continue to progress throughout her career.”
