Montana State Women’s 4x400m Relay Smashes School Record at Stanford Invite
The Montana State University (MSU) women’s track and field team reached a new milestone on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Stanford Invite. In a thrilling conclusion to the meet, the Bobcat women’s 4×400-meter relay team delivered a powerhouse performance, claiming victory and etching a new school record into the books.
A Historic Performance in California
The quartet consisting of Tilde Bjerager, Peyton Garrison, Giulia Gandolfi, and Caroline Hawkes blazed across the finish line with a winning time of 3:33.61. This performance didn’t just secure the win; it broke the previous school record by a slim but significant 0.05 seconds.
The previous record, established in 2025, was held by Jadyn VanDyken, Garrison, Gandolfi, and Hawkes. With this latest victory, the current quartet now holds both the indoor and outdoor school records for the 4x400m, having previously set the indoor mark at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in February. The team’s victory at Stanford was dominant, winning the event by 1.56 seconds.
“It was a great weekend in the Bay Area for the team,” said Lyle Weese, the Dale Kennedy Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. “We saw a few event wins and many high finishes in the two large meets, culminating with a win and school record in the women’s 4×400-meter relay.”
Beyond the Relay: Bobcat Dominance Across Events
While the 4x400m relay stole the spotlight, the Bobcats tallied five event wins in total, demonstrating depth across multiple disciplines. Other standout performances included:
- Women’s 100m: Jaeden Wolff secured a first-place finish.
- Men’s Shot Put: Easton Hatleberg took the top spot in the invite.
- Men’s 4x100m: The team of Stryder Todd-Fields, Xavier Simpson, Drake Wilkes, and Malikye Simpson claimed victory.
- Men’s 800m: Blaise Snow won section five of the event.
Kalei Moravitz delivered a strong showing in the 800m, clocking in at 2:07.35 to move into second place in Montana State history for that event.
A Legacy of Speed
The current success of the Bobcat sprint program builds upon a foundation of elite talent. Jadyn VanDyken, a key part of the previous 4x400m record, has already left a significant mark on the program, having broken four school records in the 100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters, and cross country, while also setting divisional records in three outdoor sprint events.
- New School Record: The women’s 4x400m relay team (Bjerager, Garrison, Gandolfi, Hawkes) set a record time of 3:33.61.
- Dual Records: The same quartet now holds both the indoor and outdoor school records for the 4x400m.
- Broad Success: MSU secured wins in the women’s 100m, men’s shot put, and men’s 4x100m.
- Individual Milestone: Kalei Moravitz ranks second in program history for the 800m.
As the season progresses, the Bobcats have established themselves as a formidable force in the Bay Area and beyond. With multiple program top-10 marks achieved in a single weekend, the team enters the next phase of their competition with significant momentum.