Spartan Throws and Jumps Conclude Regular Season at Music City Challenge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Michigan State track & field’s throws and jumps squads wrapped up the outdoor regular season at the Music City Challenge Saturday, competing at Vanderbilt’s Outdoor Track Compex in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Our goal was to come in and tune up for the conference meet,” said MSU multi-event and jumps coach Ceith Creekmur. “I think we did a great job of dialing in the last few details so that we are ready in two weeks for the Big Ten Championships.”

DAY 1

The Spartans kicked things off with the men’s and women’s long jumps on Friday. Senior Olivia Lopez recorded a mark of 5.75m on her sixth and final jump to finish fourth, while sophomore Jalen Nelson used a first-round 6.82m leap to finish sixth in the men’s long jump.

MSU had an impressive showing in the men’s pole vault, taking four of the top eight places. Fifth-year senior Trevor Stephenson, who entered the competition after the rest of the field had finished, won the event with a second-attempt clearance at 5.30m. Freshman Adam Blue placed second, tying his personal best at 4.90m, while senior Heath Baldwin cleared 4.70m for fourth and senior Ryan Talbot cleared 4.60m for sixth.

The Spartans wrapped up the first day of competition with a pair of podium finishes in the men’s and women’s discus throws. Sophomore Valadian Pallett placed third in the women’s discus with a throw of 46.96m and teammate Opal Jackson used a 46.51m throw to place fifth. On the men’s side, freshman Colby Morlock earned a runner-up finish with a throw of 48.51m, while Talbot placed fifth in 46.08m.

DAY 2

MSU took third and fourth place in the men’s hammer throw to begin the meet on Saturday, with junior Joshua DeVries placing third with a mark of 58.80m and Morlock using a 56.22m throw for fourth. On the women’s side, Pallett placed seventh with a throw of 52.37m.

The Spartans captured the top two spots in the women’s pole vault, with freshman duo Sophia Mettes clearing a season-best 4.08m for first and Breanne Black clearing 3.75m for second.

MSU also swept the top two spots on the podium in the men’s high jump, as freshman Brady Schultz cleared 2.04m and junior Tylor Leedom cleared 2.00m for first and second, respectively. On the women’s side, junior Elizabeth Knoll placed fifth with a 1.65m clearance.

Wrapping up the weekend with the shot put competitions, Morlock placed…