Owen will work with Montana’s pole vaulters and serve as the program’s recruiting coordinator. “Melinda is going to bring a good recruiting tool to our staff. Not only is she very organized, she is still competing and very recognizable in the pole vault world,” head coach Schweyen said. “And I think she has the ability to be a great coach. She is very excitable and gets kids to respond to her. She has that one thing you really want in a coach, someone who can motivate and understands how to work with certain individuals.” Owen, of Polson, competed at Idaho and still holds the Vandal school records in the pole vault both indoor (13-9.25) and outdoor (14-5.25). Owen was named All-America in 2007 after finishing fifth at the NCAA indoor championships at Fayetteville, Ark. She has continued competing after college and finished in the top six at five straight USA Track and Field indoor and outdoor championships, with third-place finishes at the 2009 and 2011 indoor national championships and a fifth-place finish at the 2010 outdoor national championships. Owen, who has a goal of competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, made the finals in the pole vault at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic trials. more
