BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings track & field teams would bring a handful of athletes to Bozeman to compete in the Tom Gage Classic on Friday, with the group eyeing an opportunity to improve their season marks ahead of the NCAA National Meet, with the 'Jackets grabbing a pair of first-place finishes among a number of solid finishes.
 
Following her standout GNAC Outdoor Championships performance which saw her score points in five different events and bring home the Yellowjacket women's first gold medal since 2014, Hannah Cooper would compete once more in the high jump, taking first overall at the meet with a mark of 1.62m (5' 3'75"). Competing in the event for just the second time this season, Cooper would fall just short of her mark from Tuesday of 1.69m (5' 6.5"), which currently ranks second best in the west region and 30^th in Division II this season. Cooper would also place second in the javelin with a throw of 38.28m (125' 7"), which saw her take second place at the meet. Cooper's season best mark, a provional qualifying 42.34m (138' 11") set on the first day of the GNAC Outdoor Championships, ranks seventh best in the west region, and 49^th in DII.
 
She would finish just behind teammate Rae Smart in the javelin, with the freshman taking first at the meet with a mark of 41.39m (135' 9"). Smart would also compete in the shot put at the meet, where her 14.22m (46' 8") effort took second place. Smart remains MSUB's best shot at a national qualifier, with her season best and school record shot put effort of 49' 0.75") ranking second in the west region, and 11^th in the nation in DII this season. Meanwhile, her season best javelin throw of 45.77m (150' 2") set on Monday at the GNAC Outdoor Championships would not only improve her school record mark, but see her climb to third in the west region, and 18^th in DII in the event.
 
John Roberts would run in the 100m for MSUB, coming away with a PR time of 10.75, with the freshman improving on his previous best of 10.93. The time would see Roberts climb to fourth all-time in school history for the event. Meanwhile, Micah Strong would run the 800m, looking to improve upon her school record and PR time. Strong would narrowly miss out on besting that PR time, finishing with a time of 2:11.49.
 
THE BUZZ: Cooper and Roberts were named the Intermountain Health Athletes of the Meet.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets await to see if they have any selections for the 2026 NCAA Track & Field Championships, which will take place on May 21-23 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas. Final selections for the outdoor national championships are set to be announced on May 12.