Lady Jacket Harriers Crowned HLC Champions (10/21/06)
Race Photos
BILLINGS, MT – All the time and
miles ran paid off for the Montana State-Billings
women’s cross country team as they captured the 2006
Heartland Conference Championship Saturday at
Riverfront Park. MSU Billings played host to the
HLC Championships for both the men and women.
The men’s 8K race featured six
teams. Joining the host team MSU Billings was St.
Edward’s, Dallas Baptist, Incarnate Word, Oklahoma
Panhandle and provisional member Newman University.
Because of their provisional membership in the
Heartland Conference Newman was not eligible for the
team competition but would be allowed to count
individual placements in the race.
The Hilltoppers of St. Edward’s
University claimed both the individual men’s title
and the team competition. David Fuentes finished
atop the leader board turning in a time of 26:24 to
be named the men’s Heartland Conference Champion. Newmans’ Blake Henry placed second with a 26:31
followed by James Cotter of St. Edward’s rounding
out the third spot with a time of 26:55. The top
finisher for the Yellowjacket men was Matt Roseberry (Chinook, MT). Roseberry
finished in fourth place with a time of 27:13.
Teammate Jarred Rensvold (Wolf Point, MT) was seventh
with a 27:35.
In the men’s team competition
St. Edward’s was first with 45 points followed by
Dallas Baptist with 51. Third place belonged to
Incarnate Word finishing with 54. The Jackets and
Oklahoma Panhandle rounded out fourth and fifth
places with scores of 70 and 136 respectively.
The women’s 5K race was
contested by seven teams with Newman participating
only in the individual race because of their
provisional status. Joining the Lady Jackets
included Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s University,
Dallas Baptist, Lincoln University, St. Edward’s,
and Oklahoma Panhandle.
Nessa Paul representing Lincoln
University was named the HLC Champion in the women’s
individual race. Paul finished the 5K race in a
time of 19:03. Melissa Ortiz of Newman finished
second with a time of 19:20 placing her second.
Paul’s teammate Kaydian Howell finished third
turning in a time of 19:36. The top placer for the
Lady Jackets was Teri Lea McCormick (Hardin, MT). The freshman
standout finished the race in sixth place with a
20:02. Crystal Roseberry (Chinook, MT) finished eighth
for the Jackets with a time of 20:17.
“Dave (Coppock) set the stage
for this dynamic group,” added Piplica. “We have
been out at Riverfront Park every day this week
running mile repeats around the park and not only
does he know the mechanics of developing distance
runners, he also knows how to inspire. He is a guy
you can’t help but work hard for.”
Coach Coppock said he
thought the Lady Jackets have as good a chance as
they ever have to take a conference team title, and
the women did just that. The Lady Jackets have
permanently left their mark on the Heartland
Conference as this is the final season MSUB will be
in the Texas-based conference. Next season the
Yellowjackets will join the Great Northwest Athletic
Conference.
Although the Lady Jackets were
picked to finish the season third based on the HLC
preseason poll, the determined group of young ladies
stood alone with 39 points and the Heartland
Conference title in hand. Incarnate Word was second
with 62 points followed by St. Mary’s University in
third with 74 points.
“Our conference championship is
the result of an inherently cohesive hard-working
team,” said senior runner Tiffany Piplica. “We
needed all eleven women, and when you start to feel
fatigue at the midpoint you become motivated to work
for the good of the whole.”
The Yellowjacket cross country
team would like to give a special thank you to all
that helped in making the championship race a
success. The Race Director and Rim Runners are a
true asset to the Yellowjacket cross country
program.
The Yellowjackets are set to
host an invitational run for collegiate runners
preceded by a Fun-Run
on October 28. The collegiate race is scheduled to
start at 10:00 a.m. at Riverfront Park. For more
information regarding the Fun-Run,
please contact the Yellowjacket Athletics department
at 657-2369.
Top 5 Men Top 5 Women
David Fuentes (SEU) –
26:24 Nessa Paul (LU) – 19:03
Blake Henry (NU) –
26:31 Melissa Ortiz (NU) –
19:20
James Cotter (SEU) – 26:55 Kaydian
Howell (LU) – 19:36
Matt Roseberry (MSUB) –
27:13 Camille Johnson (NU) – 19:42
Felix Rodriguez (DBU) – 27:27 Klara
Garcia (UIW) – 19:57
Men’s Team Competition Women’s
Team Competition
St. Edward’s University – 45
Montana State-Billings – 39
Dallas Baptist University – 51 Incarnate Word – 62
Incarnate Word – 54
St. Mary’s University –
74
Montana State-Billings – 70 Dallas Baptist University – 97
Oklahoma Panhandle – 136
Lincoln University – 105
St. Edward’s University – 181
Oklahoma Panhandle - 188
Yellowjacket Men Yellowjacket Women
4. Matt Roseberry - 27:13
6. Teri Lea McCormick - 20:02
7. Jarred Rensvold - 27:35
8. Crystal Roseberry - 20:17
21. Joe Kragt -29:16
11. Tiffany Piplica - 20:36
29. Andy Zoeller - 31:15
13. Erin Mueller - 20:48
32. Abram Hagstrom - 32:26
14. Cierra Dornfeld - 20:55
20. Kristy Burns - 21:46
22. Colleen Dalimata - 21:55
27. Kym Island - 22:20
29. Kisa Kron - 22:28
40. Erin Gannon - 23:35 |
