MSUB Adds Sidney Runner (6/22/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State University Billings track and cross-country coach Dave Coppock announced Friday that Mykel Ler of Sidney, Mont., has signed a national letter of intent to compete for the Yellowjackets.  Ler graduated in May from Sidney High School.

“Mykel is a solid, consistent competitor in the 800 and 1,600 meters in track as well as in cross-country,” said Coppock.  “She performed well each week this past spring track season, doubling in the 800 and 1,600 and added to that a great finish at State.  She's another one of the good middle distance runners we've signed this spring.  I'm really looking forward to helping her develop as a collegiate runner.”

Ler lettered four times in track and three times in cross-country for the Eagles.  As a senior she placed seventeenth at the State “A” cross-country championships with a 3-mile time of 20:09.  In track, Ler captured back-to-back Eastern “A” titles in the 800 meters as a junior and senior.  She was the Eastern “A” runner up both years in the 1,600.  At the state meet, Ler placed fifth in the 1,600 with a time of 5:28.  The Eagles won four-straight Eastern “A” Divisional titles during Ler’s four years and placed fifth at the 2007 State “A” meet.

“Montana State University Billings has great business and education programs,” said Ler of her school of choice.  “The scenery and the size of the campus attracted me along with the friendly people I met.  I love to run, and MSUB wanted me to run for them.  That was an honor.”

MSU Billings has competed in cross-country for many years and will add indoor and outdoor track and field in 2007-2008.  The inaugural year of NCAA track at the school will also be the Yellowjackets’ first year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.