PUEBLO, Colo. – The Montana State University Billings track and field teams competed in CSU Pueblo's Spank Blasing Invitational meet over the weekend, ending the weekend with a number of excellent finishes, as well as top times in the GNAC.
 
Highlighting the weekend for MSUB was a victory in the women's javelin from sophomore Ryann Moline. After finishing in first at last week's Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Icebreaker meet, Moline followed that performance up with an even better one in Pueblo. Her mark of 40.41 meters (132' 7") was more than a meter better than every other competitor. Moline currently owns the second best mark in the GNAC for the season.
 
Ben Ralston finished with a pair of top ten finishes in the 200m and 400m, setting new personal bests in both events. Ralston's 200m time of 22.42 was tenth overall at the meet, and the sixth best time in MSUB history, while his 400m time of 49.71 was fourth at the meet, and the third fastest time in program history.
 
On top of those two, the 'Jackets had an additional handful of top ten finishes. Forrest Cross ended in eighth place in the discus, with his throw of 47.16 meters (154' 9") setting a new season best. The senior also narrowly missed the top ten in the shot put, finishing in 11^th with a mark of 14.99 meters (49' 2.25"). Cross's best marks in both events this season are the second best throws in the GNAC.
 
Tatum Hull finished in ninth for the long jump with a best of 5.36 meters (17' 7"). That mark tied the mark set by Shaniah Schwend in 2018 for second in MSUB program history. It was a new personal best for Hull, who ranks fifth in the GNAC this season.
 
Staying in the pit, Kendall Lynn earned a seventh-place finish in the triple jump, leaping 11.32 meters (37' 1.75"), and 14^th in the long jump with a mark of 5.28 meters (17' 4"). The owner of MSUB's all time best marks in both events, Lynn has the top triple jump finish in outdoor season of all GNAC athletes.
 
The 'Jackets also had solid finishes in long distance events from Ase Ackerman and Kailee Stoppel. Stoppel finished ninth in the 3k steeple race, clocking in a time of 11:59.59. Meanwhile Ackerman finished 12^th in the 1500m, running a 4:06.08, before finishing in ninth for the 800m with a time of 1:58.02.
 
QUICK HITS:
 

• Favor Okere set a new personal best in the 200m with a time of 24.53.
• Carson Jessop finished seventh in the men's 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:15.60.
• Jaida Green finished in 11^th for the women's shot put, with a mark of 10.97 (36' 0").

 
 
THE BUZZ: Ralston was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Meet for the men, while Moline was selected as the women's Athlete of the Meet.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets are scheduled to host the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open alongside Rocky Mountain College from March 31-April 1. The meet will take place at Lockwood High School, with hammer throw to be hosted at Bjorgum Filed on the campus of MSUB.