SPOKANE, Wash. – – A personal best in the mile for Ase Ackerman led the Montana State University Billings track and field teams at the Whitworth Invitational over the weekend at The Podium.

Ackerman cruised to a time of 4:10.95 minutes to win among a field of 47 runners. The senior topped his previous best of 4:14.95 minutes by four full seconds, and inched closer to Robert Peterson's school record of 4:07.63 minutes.

The meet was also highlighted by a victory from the men's distance medley relay team, which ran the fourth-best time in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference this season at 10:11.95 minutes. The squad of Logan Straus, Ben Ralston, Carson Jessop, and Ackerman finished just over five seconds off the school record of 10:06.41, and topped a field of nine teams in the event.

Ralston hit a personal best for the second straight week in the 60-meters, cruising to a time of 7.01 seconds to finish second among a field of 85 competitors. He followed that up with a PR in the 400-meters, posting a time of 50.20 seconds to narrowly improve upon his mark of 50.50 seconds from last March during the outdoor season. Ralston also ran a time of 22.65 seconds in the 200-meters.

Grace Jones finished fourth in the weight throw among a field of 34 competitors, hitting a personal-best toss of 14.69 meters (48' 2.5"). That was a significant improvement upon her previous best of 14.44 meters (47' 4.5"), which she achieved on Jan. 28 at the Don Holst Open. Jones followed with a mark of 10.50 meters (34' 5.5") in the shot put on Saturday.

Wyatt May represented the 'Jacket men in the 3,000-meters, finishing in the middle of the pack with a time of 9:12.38 minutes. Kailee Stoppel led the 'Jackets in the 800-meters, finishing in fifth place with a time of 2:18.20 minutes.

Women's sprinters Tatum Hull and Mya Richardson each hit their season best in the 60-meters, with times of 7.95 seconds and 8.09 seconds, respectively. Chantel Chase (8.36 seconds), Alyssa Sanchez (8.38 seconds), and Katelyn Hamill (8.47 seconds) each also ran the 60-meters for the 'Jackets. Sanchez ran a time of 27.73 seconds in the 200-meters.

Freshman Jaida Green hit her top shot put mark of the season, as she threw 11.22 meters (36' 9.75") to surpass her distance of 11.12 meters (36' 5.75") at the Don Holst Open on Jan. 28. Green and Brynn Jolma were next down the weight throw list for MSUB after Jones, with throws of 12.73 meters (41' 9.25") and 12.52 meters (41' 1"), respectively. Jordan Cookman also participated in the weight throw, finishing in 20th place with a  throw of 12.25 meters (40' 2.25").

Kendall Lynn led the 'Jackets in the long jump with a mark of 5.24 meters (17' 2.25"), while Madeline Severson reached a distance of 4.78 meters (15' 8.25"). Lynn also hit a mark of 11.07 meters (36' 4") in the triple jump to finish fourth among a field of 21 competitors. Sanchez and Jasmine Cofield also participated in the triple jump, finishing at 10.23 meters (33' 6.75") and 9.63 meters (31' 7.25"), respectively. Severson meanwhile turned in a height of 1.47 meters (4' 9.75") in the high jump to tie for 13th place.

The Yellowjacket women's distance medley relay team finished in ninth place among a field of 13 schools, posting a time of 13:07.74 minutes. The foursome of Stoppel, Ally Whitmer, Kaylee Dalling, and Mya Richardson teamed up for the first time this season. Richardson was the lone 'Jacket to also participate in the 60-meters, where she ran a time of 8.04 seconds.

The women also had a pair of 4x400-meter relay squads, with the first comprised of Klein, Richardson, Stoppel, and Severson finishing in 4:14.00 minutes and the second comprised of Hull, Clark, Dalling, and Whitmer finishing in 4:19.85 minutes. The men's 4x400-meter relay squad meanwhile finished with a time of 3:33.32 minutes.

Dalling also ran a time of 11:33.11 minutes in the 3,000-meters, which was her best time of the season. Whitmer ran in the mile as well, finishing with a time of 5:36.02 minutes.
For the men's throwers, Isaac Perkins was the top weight throw performer at 14.11 meters (46' 3.5"). Cort Sandefur also participated in the weight throw, and hit a mark of 10.37 meters (34' 0.25"). That duo also finished in the middle of the pack in the shot put, with Perkins throwing 12.46 meters (40' 10.5"), and Sandefur following at 12.41 meters (40' 8.75").

Bryce Olson competed in the men's long jump, securing a mark of 5.96 meters (19' 6.75"), and in the triple jump with a mark of 12.64 meters (41' 5.75"). Garrett McMillen finished just behind Olson in the triple jump, with a leap of 12.48 meters (40' 11.5").

In the men's high jump, Favor Okere cleared a mark of 1.77 meters (5' 9.75"). He also ran a time of 7.25 seconds in the 60-meters, and was followed by Bradley Graves at 7.26 seconds, William Ullery at 7.28 seconds, and Jonny Rocha at 7.38 seconds. Ullery also ran a time of 52.42 seconds in the 400-meters, while Lucas Harper finished in 54.08 seconds. Rocha also ran the 200-meters, with a time of 24.54 seconds.

Annelise Clark competed in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 10.59 seconds, while on the men's side Graves hit a time of 8.58 seconds. Clark also competed in the 400-meters with a time of 1:03.52 minutes, while Richardson ran 1:02.89 minutes, Severson finished in 1:03.69, and Bella Klein finished in 1:03.71 minutes. Chase (1:05.13 minutes), and Hamill (1:06.53 minutes) also participated in the 400-meters.

Gaven McColloch and May each ran in the men's 800-meters, finishing with times of 2:02.28 minutes and 2:08.43 minutes, respectively.

THE BUZZ: Ackerman and Jones were named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athletes of the Day.

UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets are next in action at the GNAC Championships, which are scheduled for Feb. 20-21 at The Podium in Spokane.