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The Bobcat Surge: 5 Ways Montana State Track And Field Is Dominating The 2025-2026 Season

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The Montana State Track and Field program is currently experiencing one of its most dynamic and record-breaking eras, setting the stage for an explosive 2025-2026 campaign. As of late December 2025, the Bobcats have already fired the opening salvo for the Indoor season, highlighted by a massive new facility debut and an immediate school/conference record being shattered.

Following a stellar 2025 outdoor season where both the men’s and women’s teams secured runner-up finishes at the Big Sky Conference Championships, the momentum has surged into the new academic year. The program's success is built on a foundation of elite coaching, a commitment to academic excellence, and a core group of athletes who are rewriting the MSU record books and consistently challenging for national recognition.

The New Guard: Key Athletes, Coaches, and Program Leadership (2025-2026)

The strength of the Montana State Bobcats lies in its deep roster of talent and the stability of its coaching staff. The following individuals and entities are central to the program's recent success and future aspirations, providing the topical authority that defines the MSU track and field identity:

  • Lyle Weese: Dale Kennedy Director of Track and Field. A former Bobcat All-American, he provides high-level strategic leadership for the entire program.
  • Jonathan Woehl: Head Men's and Women's Track & Field Coach. Woehl manages the day-to-day operations and coaching of the men's and women's teams.
  • Hailey Coey (Long Jump/60m): A sensational athlete who, on December 4, 2025, shattered her own school and Big Sky Conference long jump record at the Bobcat PReview with a mark of 6.42 meters (21' 0.75"). She is also the first MSU long jumper to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
  • Colby Wilson (Pole Vault): A record-breaking pole vaulter who has smashed his own school and conference records. Wilson is notable as the first men's pole vault athlete from Montana State to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
  • Harvey Cramb (800m): An elite middle-distance runner who set a top-10 Men's Team Record in the 800m with a time of 1:47.81 during the 2025 season.
  • Mathias Mees (Combined Events): A strong multi-event athlete who earned a runner-up finish in the Combined Events at the 2025 Big Sky Outdoor Championships.
  • Xavier Simpson (Sprints): The winner of the Men's 60m dash at the 2025 Big Sky Tuner, posting a time of 6.80.
  • Rob McManus (Distance): A key distance runner who earned Big Sky Weekly Honors for his strong performance at the Cat-Griz Dual.
  • Kyla Christopher-Moody (Distance): A women's distance runner who was recognized with Big Sky Weekly Honors alongside McManus.
  • Olivia Lewis (Sprints/Relay): A member of the women's 4x400m relay team that advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2025.
  • Peyton Garrison (Sprints/Relay): Another critical component of the successful women's 4x400m relay team.
  • John Achter (Distance): A promising young distance runner on the 2025-26 roster.
  • Hunter Bailey (Throws): A key throws specialist for the Bobcats.
  • Kody Biggs (Throws): Another throws athlete contributing to the team's field event depth.
  • Ethan Anderson (Roster): A new addition to the 2025-26 men's track and field roster.
  • Noah Barbery (Roster): A new Bobcat athlete specializing in Environmental Science.
  • Jennifer Allen: Assistant Coach (Throws), a vital part of the field event success.
  • Nels Flanagan: Assistant Coach (Distance), guiding the successful cross country and distance programs.

The 5 Pillars of Montana State's Explosive 2025-2026 Season

The current Bobcat track and field season is defined by several key areas of dominance, from infrastructure to championship-level performances. These factors position Montana State as the top contender to dethrone Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Conference.

1. The Debut of the State-of-the-Art Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center

The most significant development for the program is the opening of the multi-million dollar Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center. This premier indoor training and competition space officially opened its doors in August 2025 and is a game-changer for the Bobcats. The facility's debut meet, the Bobcat PReview on December 4, 2025, immediately showcased its potential, providing a top-tier environment for athletes to achieve peak performance. The new center not only serves as a massive recruiting tool but also allows athletes to train at an elite level year-round, which is crucial for a program in the challenging Montana climate.

The new indoor facility provides a competitive advantage, attracting top-tier talent like Ethan Anderson and Noah Barbery, and allowing current athletes to break records immediately, such as Hailey Coey's long jump performance. This investment in infrastructure demonstrates the university's commitment to becoming a dominant force in the Big Sky Conference and on the national stage.

2. Record-Breaking Dominance in Field Events

Montana State’s field athletes are consistently setting the pace, a clear sign of specialized coaching under the program's leadership. The recent performances of Hailey Coey and Colby Wilson illustrate a program that excels outside of the traditional track events. Coey’s long jump record (6.42m) in December 2025 was not just a school record but a Big Sky Conference record, cementing her status as a national-level talent. Similarly, Colby Wilson has become a powerhouse in the pole vault, breaking his own records and becoming the first MSU men's pole vaulter to reach the NCAA Indoor Championships.

This field-event strength was a major factor in the Bobcats' overall success in the 2025 Big Sky Outdoor Championships, where the men’s team finished second with 154 points, narrowly trailing Northern Arizona. The field events, including the combined events where Mathias Mees was a runner-up, are proving to be the team’s most reliable source of championship points.

3. The Big Sky Conference Championship Consistency

The Montana State Bobcats have established themselves as the undisputed second-place power in the Big Sky, consistently finishing as the top program behind the perennial powerhouse Northern Arizona. The 2025 Outdoor season saw both the men’s and women’s teams finish as the conference runner-up. This consistency is a major indicator of a program ready to take the next step. The program’s goal for the 2025-2026 season is clear: convert those runner-up positions into championship titles.

The team’s depth, demonstrated by the ten student-athletes named to the CSC Academic All-District team in 2025, ensures that MSU is competitive across all events, from sprints (Xavier Simpson) to distance (Harvey Cramb, Rob McManus, Kyla Christopher-Moody). This depth is vital for accumulating the necessary points in the multi-day championship format.

4. Elite Middle-Distance and Relay Performances

While the field events garner headlines, the distance and middle-distance programs remain core strengths. Harvey Cramb’s 800m performance of 1:47.81 in 2025 places him among the all-time greats in Montana State history. Furthermore, the women’s 4x400m relay team, featuring Olivia Lewis and Peyton Garrison, qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, showcasing the program's ability to compete at the highest level in team events.

Under the guidance of Director Lyle Weese, a former All-American distance runner, the endurance athletes are consistently performing at an All-Big Sky level, providing a solid foundation of points in the long-distance and middle-distance events at every major meet.

5. A Culture of Academic and Athletic Excellence

The Bobcat program maintains a strong emphasis on the student-athlete experience, balancing rigorous competition with academic success. The 2024-2025 season saw ten athletes earn CSC Academic All-District honors, a testament to the program's commitment to excellence in the classroom. This culture of accountability and high achievement is a significant factor in the team's sustained success. The ability to recruit and retain high-caliber individuals who excel academically and athletically ensures a strong, motivated team year after year, guaranteeing that the "Bobcat Surge" is not a one-year phenomenon but a sustained era of dominance in the Big Sky Conference.

montana state track and field
montana state track and field

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