(Editor’s note: MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Montana State University Billing head track and field coach Jon Woehl continued to add to the roster this week by announcing the signing of four Montana recruits for the 2019-20 athletic season on Monday. Kallie Zinne (Joliet, Montana) is expected to jump for Yellowjacket women’s track and field. Ben Bishop (Bozeman, MT) joins the men’s team as a thrower with javelin as a primary focus.
Bryant Edgerton (Townsend, MT) signed on as a distance runner and will compete in both track and field and cross country while Tyler Rued (Bozeman, MT) will help the depth of the sprinting lineup for the ‘Jackets. Monday’s signings bring Woehl’s off-season recruit count to seven, all from treasure state, with several more expected to be added in the coming weeks.
“It’s particularly nice to get kids from Montana, especially since we try to schedule several meets in our home state,” said
Woehl. “That way more friends and family can watch and become fans of our team. It’s always important to get local talent and I’m excited about who we’ve been able to add to our group so far.”
Kallie Zinne
Joliet, MT
Joliet High School
5-9, Jumps
Major: Dental Hygiene
Zinne joins the Yellowjackets as a true freshman and former Joliet J-Hawk. Zinne was a four-year letter winner in high school and winner of the Joliet High School most outstanding female jumper award as a senior. Amongst her accolades, Zinne was named academic all-state from 2016-19 as well as the Joliet Lions Club Scholastic Achievement Certificate award winner. At the track, she finished second in high jump and third in long jump at the 2018 class B state meet, improving on her previous season where she took fourth in both events.
Zinne was named Joliet’s most valuable female athlete for 2017 and competed in track and field as well as volleyball.
Coach Woehl on Zinne: “I think we are primarily going to focus on high jump for Kallie. I think we can start to consistently get her over 5-foot-2 but really the sky is the limit. We can potentially tweak a couple things and then she’ll be jumping really well. We’re looking forward to working with her on triple jump as well.”
Zinne on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I believe the coaches will help me reach my full potential. I’m excited to see what the next season brings.”
Ben Bishop
Bozeman, MT
Bozeman High School
5-10, Javelin/Discus/Shotput
Major: Business
Bishop comes to MSUB an already accomplished high school javelin thrower from Bozeman. Bishop was a three sport athlete at Bozeman High School including track and field, wrestling, and football. He was also track and field team captain as a senior and earned most outstanding thrower last season for the Hawks.
Bishop earned four letters in track over his prep career and was Montana Eastern Division Champion for 2019 in javelin. He placed third at the Montana State Championships in 2019. Bishop’s personal best javelin throw is 174’11”. He also threw 42’ 0” in shotput and 130’9” in discus. Bishop plans to major in business at MSUB and is contemplating the beginning his professional career as a small business owner after college.
Coach Woehl on Bishop: “Javelin is probably going to be Ben’s best event but we’re also going to work on some other events as well and try to transfer his skills from the high school level to college.”
Bishop on choosing MSUB: “Academically, I liked the smaller class sizes at MSU Billings. I believe I will also have a greater opportunity to compete in multiple events at the Division II level. My passion is for javelin, but it will be fun to compete in other throwing events and even run during the indoor season.”
Bryant Edgerton
Townsend, MT
Broadwater High School
5-8, Distance
Major: Health and Human Performance
Edgerton has eight combined high school letters in cross country and track and field from Broadwater High School. His senior highlights include cross country team most valuable player, individual cross country state champion, team most valuable player in track, and district champion in the 800 meters, 1600 meters, and 3200 meters. Edgerton is also a state champion in both the 1600 and 3200 meter distances.
Edgerton’s personal best 5K in cross country stands at 15 minutes 34 seconds. In track, he ran the 800 meters in 2 minutes 3 seconds, 1600 meters in 4 minutes, 28 seconds, and 3200 meters in 9 minutes, 49 seconds.
Coach Woehl on Edgerton: “Bryant missed some time on the track to do his mission but I think he is going to do really well for us. He’s a very motivated person and I think he’s will be a very good fit with the rest of the guys on the team.”
Edgerton on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it was the best place for me to progress in academics and athletics.”
Tyler Rued
Bozeman, MT
Bozeman High School
6-4, Sprints/Relays
Major: Pre-Med
Rued comes to the Yellowjackets an experienced sprinter with the potential to run legs of the men’s 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays. He graduated Bozeman High School a team captain, sprinter of the year, and track athlete of the year. For the state of Montana, Rued was named academic all-state, all-conference in four events, and all-state in two events.
Under head coach Eric Fisher, he set a personal best 11.33 seconds in the 100 meter dash, 22.68 seconds in the 200 meter dash, and 50.64 seconds in the 400 meter dash. Rued plans to major in pre-med with an eye on physician’s assistant for a future career.
Coach Woehl on Rued: “Tyler showed a lot of improvement from his junior to senior year of high school. He has some really good speed so I would expect him to come here and be a contender for the 4×400 and the 4×100 meter relay teams.”
Rued on choosing MSUB: “The track team really made me feel wanted more than any other school. Everyone I spoke to at MSUB was very friendly and extremely helpful. I’m excited to start my career as a Yellowjacket.”
