SPEARFISH, S.D. – Battling a strong crosswind and cold temperatures on day two, the Montana State University Billings track and field team came up with good results and more top-10 marks during Black Hills State University's Yellow Jacket Spring Open this Friday and Saturday.
 
"Overall, I was really proud with how the team did," MSUB head track and field coach Jonathan Woehl said. "We were in the hotel lobby on Saturday morning with our weather apps open, looking at the forecast and feeling like it would be a long day. But as soon as we got off the bus, we talked about how even though conditions aren't ideal, we still had an opportunity to compete and get better. I'm really proud of how the team did and how everyone cheered each other on, while still trying to put together solid performances."
 
In the only event for MSUB on Friday, Forrest Cross and Grace Jones led the way in the circle with new personal bests in the hammer throw. Jones led the way for the women with a 38.80m (127-3) mark. Cross, who set a PR in his return to outdoor track last week, placed eighth out of 32 throwers.
 
"Both Forrest and Grace have been the tone-setters at these meets," MSUB assistant track and field coach Nels Flanagan said. "It's nice that Forrest is back; we didn't have him for indoor season, so to have an upperclassman presence at these meets really sets the tone as he competes with the best throwers from the other schools. The work ethic that both Grace and Forrest put in at practice has really started to pay off. Grace has got at least 20 more feet in her, and she knows that. I'm expecting a big week for both of them this coming week in Billings. It's basically been a lot of hard work for both of them paying off."
 
In particular, Cross has racked up two new PRs in as many weeks. Despite missing several outdoor track seasons due to injury, the redshirt junior has returned and one-upped himself in consecutive meets. His hammer throw mark of 47.99m (157-5) is the third-best in school history.
 
Flanagan, who was Cross' teammate when Cross was an underclassman, attributes this year's improvements and devotion to returning to track and field after several setbacks to Cross' positive disposition. After sustaining knee and shoulder injuries since 2018, Cross has gradually regained his confidence and – in the process – set several personal bests in the early goings of the season.
 
"Most of that is Forrest's mentality as a person," Flanagan said. "He's such an optimistic and positive person, and even though he's had one injury after another that could've brought anyone else down, Forrest has kept his head up and worked hard. Through these first few weeks at meets, the biggest hurdles have been his confidence in his knee and his shoulder. Besides that, he's been killing it. He has so much more in him, and I'm really excited for him."
 
"Getting to watch him and see where he is now by seeing the full process of how he's figured out everything has been super cool to see," Flanagan added.
 
From there, the weather worsened on Saturday, yet the 'Jackets made the most of it. Highlighted by the women's 4x100 relay's win in a season-best time of 50.70, all four relays ran season-bests; the majority of their handoffs were clean. Benjamin Ralston won the men's open 400 meters with a 50.50 – an improvement from his 50.60 in indoor season – Chantel Chase had two top-10 finishes in the 100 and 200 meters, plus the throwers had several personal bests in the discus despite the winds. Danara Tulimaiau and Dakota Lobmeyer set new personal bests in the discus with marks of 32.63m and 32.31m, respectively.
 
In the distance events, Ase Ackerman won the men's 1,500 meters with a personal best of 3:58.62 – making him the fifth MSUB runner to go sub-4 in the 1,500. He also placed second in the 800 meters with a 1:59.18, with Carson Jessop and Logan Straus close behind in 2:02.45 and 2:02.91, respectively.
 
Yet the relays closed the meet on a high note. The women's 4x400 relay of Madeline Severson, Sierra Durbin, Ally Whitmer and Chanel Chase cruised to a 10-second win with a 4:15.50. For the men, Lucas Harper, Bradley Graves, William Ullery and Benjamin Ralston took fourth in a competitive heat in which the top four teams finished within three seconds of each other. Ullery, who made his debut in the outdoor 400 meters on Saturday, ran a 51-second split in the third leg and held off some opponents, then Ralston came through with a 49-second split and helped the 'Jackets narrowly finish fourth with a season-best 3:30.39.
 
"They did really well, and that's why we want to keep running the 4x400 relay," Woehl said. "Whether it's a nice day and we feel good, or if it's a bad day and we're tired, we need more reps racing the event and doing it together. When the stars align and we feel really good running in nice weather, we can take advantage of that situation. I think on a day like this, it shows that we don't need to have the right conditions to go out and still run a good relay."
 
THE RUNDOWN

• Benjamin Ralston was the St. Vincent Healthcare Men's Athlete of the Day for winning the open 400 meters in a 50.50 – which ranks 5^th in MSUB history – and for anchoring both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays to new season-bests.
• Madeline Severson was the St. Vincent Healthcare Women's Athlete of the Day for placing second in the open 400 meters with a 1:01.67 and for leading off the women's 4x400 relay to a comfortable win with a 4:15.50. She also placed eighth in the high jump.
• Favor Okere set a collegiate personal best by clearing 1.85m (6-0.75) in the high jump, which is tied for ninth-best in MSUB history.
• Kit Wiersema set a new personal best in the 5,000 meters and placed seventh with a 20:07.52.
• Despite the conditions, Danara Tulimaiau and Dakota Lobmeyer set new personal bests in the discus with marks of 32.63m and 32.31m, respectively.
• Chantel Chase finished sixth in the 100 meters with a 13.30 and fourth in the 200 meters with a 27.36.
• Ryder Klein placed third in the javelin with a 47.45m (155-8) mark. For the women, Ryann Moline placed seventh with a throw of 32.26m (105-10).

 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets return home next weekend for the Yellowjackets/Battlin' Bears Open, held at Lockwood High school on April 2 at 11 a.m. The meet will also double as MSUB's senior day. Livestream and live results can be found on the men's and women's track schedule page on msubsports.com.

NOTE: An earlier version of this story stated the women's 4x100 relay was disqualified. The MSUB coaching staff protested the result and the ruling was overturned.