MISSOULA, Mont. – Lewis-Clark State College distance runners had a strong day at the Tom Gage Last Chance Meet at the University of Montana’s Dornblaser Field with Sean Huey and Tanner Smedley both winning events on Friday.


Huey won the men’s 10,000 meter run in 33 minutes, 34.31 seconds, while Smedley won the steeplechase in 9:43.79, which is a school record and under the NAIA national meeting qualifying time. Teammate Andy Keim was fifth in 10:26.86.

Friday’s meet involved only a few schools who were hoping to qualify more athletes to their respective national meets. Smedley became the sixth Warrior to qualify for nationals, an all-time best, while Kirsten Smith qualified for her third national event. In all, the six have qualified in 10 events.

The Warriors also set five school marks in the meet. Along with Smedley’s showing in the steeplechase, Kelsey Klettke broke her record time in the 800 by finishing fourth in 2:13.65. Klettke has qualified for the 800, 1,500 and 5,000 for nationals.

“She shaved three seconds off her time last week and three more this week so I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a top 10 time for the NAIA,” LCSC coach Mike Collins said. “She’s running extremely well.”

The final three LCSC records went to Smith. She finished fifth in the shot put at 42-feet, 9-inches, which met the NAIA qualifying standards. She also set marks in the discus at 140-3 and hammer throw at 159-05, which was good enough for fourth and third place, respectively, on Friday. She already met NAIA qualifying standards in those events.

In the women’s steeplechase, seniors Kyli Astle and Lindsay Szybura finished second and third, respectively. Astle was timed in 11:47.81, while Szybura crossed in 12:00.98. The two already have qualified for nationals in the event.


LCSC’s Fernando Esparanza was third in the 800 in 1:55.64, while Jake Miller placed fourth in the 5,000 in 15:59.64. Teammate Sean Hagan was 12^th in 17:10.69, while Conor Thompson was 13^th in 17:35.07.


The Warriors will have both throwers and runners taking part in the University of Idaho Vandal Jamboree on Saturday in Moscow. The hammer throw was held on Friday night with LCSC’s Jake Meyer setting a school record with a throw of 144-02, which placed him 12^th overall. The hammer was the only event held on Friday.


TOM GAGE LAST CHANCE MEET