SPEARFISH, S.D. – Kaelen Shay ran a career best 11.06 seconds in the 100 meter dash and the Montana State University Billings track and field teams wrapped up competition in the Yellow Jacket Open Saturday afternoon at Lyle Hare Stadium. Shay finished second in the event for MSUB. Teammates Mason Schram (11.11 seconds) and Kyle Patelis (11.25 seconds) also placed third and fourth respectively in the 100 meter finals.
 
Isaiah Girard was another highlight for the Yellowjackets. Girard won the high jump competition with a mark of 2.06 meters. Girard surpassed his own school record of 2.02 meters set during indoor season and set a provisional mark for NCAA Division II. To cap off his record setting day, Girard managed to finish second in long jump when his feet hit the sand at 6.51 meters. Ty Stanton came in fourth in long jump with a mark of 6.33 meters.
 
"It was a good opening event for us in Spearfish," commented MSUB head track and field coach Jon Woehl. "Conditions were not ideal for fast spring times but they still ran well. I was happy with the effort by both of our teams in running and throwing events."
 
MSU Billings was up against schools in the Midwest, including South Dakota Mines. Black Hills State, Chadron State, Rocky Mountain, Sioux Falls, Minot State, and Dickinson State. Despite cool conditions with temperatures in the mid-40's, several MSUB runners posted respectable times.
 
Black Hills state made a clean sweep of the top five men's 1500 meter times but Mark Hovland was seventh for MSUB after he crossed the line in 4:08.84. Ase Ackerman followed in ninth at 4:19.53 and Logan Straus was tenth with a time of 4:19.53. Ackerman and Straus won their heat by several seconds.
 
The 'Jackets ran a pair of 4x400 meter relay teams in Spearfish. The top team included Sierra Durbin (first leg), Josey Smiedala (second leg), Kailee Stoppel (third leg), and Brenna Beckett (fourth leg). They finished second among six entries with a combined time of 4:13.06.
 
"It was good to have Josey back on the track after she missed most of indoor season with an injury," Woehl said. "Our relay team was great today and it was the fastest we've run all year."
 
Brady Ostermiller came in first place in men's shot put after he heaved a mark of 14.70 meters. Hannah Nessan took fourth in women's shotput after throwing 11.45 meters. Nessan also threw 39.89 meters in discus throw to grab second place, a shade under three meters behind Kyla Sawvell of Black Hills State. Ostermiller took second in discus behind Dickinson State's Blade Miller. Matthew Poore was sixth in discus at 36.59 meters.
 
"Considering it was 45 degrees, we had ran some good times," said Woehl. "Hopefully we get better as the spring goes on but overall I was happy with today's results. I'm looking forward to our home meet next week."
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets host the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open on March 30 at 9 a.m. Most events will take place at Laurel High School. The lineup of participating schools is expected to include many or all of the teams in competition in Spearfish.
 
THE BUZZ: Isaiah Girard was named St. Vincent Healthcare track athlete of the meet for beating his own school record in high jump and setting an NCAA Division II provisional mark. Josie Smiedala also earned St. Vincent Healthcare athlete of the meet for helping the women's 4x400 meter relay team post a season best time to finish second in her return from a long injury layoff.