Wilde, Swindler win titles on impressive day one for Montana Track and Field

Montana's track and field program had a pair of conference champions, another podium finish, a Big Sky Championship record, three school records, and plenty of final qualifiers on Friday in an impressive first day at the indoor championships.

"We did really well in some of the event finals. We had some Big Sky Champions, some Big Sky awards, and some point scorers. I thought it was a great day from that perspective," head coach Doug Fraley said. "One of the big things about Friday is getting people through to the finals and I thought we did a heck of a job with that in a lot of areas."

Erin Wilde continued to cement her place in Montana, and Big Sky Conference, history with another title in the women's high jump. It's now the 6th title for Wilde with three indoor and three outdoor crowns in the event.

The senior from Whitefish was pushed as she chased some history. After a miss at 5-9.75 and a first attempt make from Idaho's Cami Cvitkovich, Wilde was in second place as the bar moved up to 5-10.75.

Both athletes missed their first attempt, but Wilde went up and over on her second attempt to advance to the 6-foot mark. Cvitkovich exited the competition at 5-10.75, giving Wilde yet another medal for her trophy case.

Wilde ends her indoor career with 13 straight meet victories and a third Big Sky title. She's just the seventh woman in Montana history to win six combined titles and is only the second to do it in the same event, joining Loni Perkins-Judisch who won seven 400m titles.

"I'm really proud of myself. I accomplished everything that I could and everything that I put my mind to," Wilde said. "Working on the little things really helps and having my family to support me, Erica as a coach, Jaidyn (Pevey) as a freshman keeping me on my toes. I really appreciate everyone."

It has been smooth sailing in many of the Big Sky titles for Wilde in her career as she has been well ahead of the rest of the jumpers. She faced some adversity on Friday, but Fraley was impressed with how she responded.

"We talked to her after the meet and I told her it was good to see her have to dig in deep and earn one because in several she hasn't really been pushed," Fraley said. "This one she had to jump really high to win and it was great to see her respond as she always does at this meet. Six in a row is one hell of an accomplishment for any athlete in any event."

Kevin Swindler joined Wilde in the winner's circle on Friday evening with a title in the men's pole vault. The favorite entering the meet and Montana's school record holder, Swindler was also pushed to impressive heights in Pocatello.

It was his own teammate, Carson Hegele, that did so on Friday. Both Grizzlies were perfect through the 16-4.75 bar. Hegele missed once at the next bar while Swindler missed twice, moving Hegele into the lead.

When the bar reached the 17-foot mark, Swindler made quick work, clearing on his first attempt. It took Hegele three attempts for his clearance, which would prove to be the tiebreaker between the two.

The two athletes both set program records this year and they both once again cleared the program mark entering the season, clearing 17-4.5 on their first attempts. They tied for the win at that height with Swindler becoming Big Sky Champion on the tiebreak.

Swindler is the first men's pole vault champion for Montana since Keith Webber in 2014.

The Grizzlies added three more gold medals to its trophy case on Saturday as both the men and women finished in third place at the Big Sky Indoor Championships.  

Whitefish grad Brooke Zetooney finished 5th in the 60m. (7.47)