NEW ORLEANS – Montana State University Billings had four student-athletes earn all-west region honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in an announcement made this week.
Senior
Sam Zook led the Great Northwest Athletic Confrence with three all-west region awards in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the 4x100 meter relay. The 'Jacket men's 4x100 meter relay team was also recognized and included
Rahkei Eyer,
Mason Schram, and
Kaelen Shay in addition to Zook.
All-region honors are awarded to the top-5 individuals in each event from each region as well as each of the members of the region's top three relay teams. Regions include – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West.
Zook followed up his stellar junior season with another series of outstanding performances in 2019. He posted a season best time in the 100 meters at 10.60 seconds at the Montana State Open and ran 11.01 at the GNAC Outdoor Championships, marking the top time in the conference in back-to-back seasons. Zook ran across the line in 22.18 at the conference meet in the 200 meters to take fourth place and had a season best 21.37 second time at the MSU Open which won the race. Including the 2018-19 outdoor season, Zook has been named all-west region six times and earned GNAC player of the week four times.
The MSUB men's 4x100 meter relay team entered the GNAC outdoor championships leading the conference and accomplished their goal of taking home the trophy. Shay anchored the first leg of the team and was followed by Zook, Schram, and Eyer. Together they ran a time of 41.28 seconds, ahead of Northwest Nazarene's time of 41.94. It was the second straight season MSUB reigned atop the GNAC for the men's 4x100 meter relay event.
Shay steadily improved throughout his time at MSUB which culminated in the relay title and a sixth place finish in the 100 meters at the GNAC Championships, ending his senior season. Schram and Shay helped the 'Jackets win the 4x100 meter relay last season as well when they teamed up with Zook,
Lamont Frisby. He will return for his senior season in 2019-20.
Eyer completed his second season with good performances in the 4x100, 100 meter, and 200 meter dash at the GNAC Championships. Eyer took third in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.88 seconds.
A total of 66 GNAC student-athletes were named all-region by the USTFCCCA with 32 men and 34 women selected. Of the GNAC honorees, 17 had the top mark in the region in the respective events. Central Washington University and Concordia University led the conference with 10 total selections each.
