Miles City’s Berg to Run for Jackets (5/21/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State University Billings cross-country and track coach Dave Coppock announced Monday that Chase Berg of Miles City has signed a national letter of intent to run for the Yellowjackets next season.  Berg is a senior at Custer County High School.

“I'm really excited to have a guy like Chase Berg join our program,” said Coppock.  “He's a great 400 meter runner, but he has a pretty wide range on the track from the 100 to the 800 meters.  I see a lot of potential there, and we'll be able to develop that through running on the cross country team in the fall which will really build his strength and endurance.  I want to see him go under 50 seconds in the 400 by next spring.”

Berg lettered three times in track and football at Custer County High School.  The Cowboys won a divisional title in football in 2005 and a divisional championship in track in 2006.  They were fourth at last week’s Eastern A track meet.  Earlier this season Berg ran 52.4 in the 400, 23.7 in the 200, and 11.4 in the 100.  At last week’s divisional he placed sixth in the 100 and fifth in the 400.  He was also a member of the Cowboys’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that captured divisional titles. 

“He and his teammates have been doing great this spring, and their 4x400 meter relay has one of the fastest times in the state this year in all classes,” said Coppock.  “Chase truly loves the sport and is highly competitive, and I think he will be a real positive force on our team next year. He'll be part of a strong core group of 400 meter runners I've been putting together who should be very competitive in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference next year.”