Women’s Cross Country Takes Second in South Dakota, Men Finish Sixth

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Placing four runners in the top 15, Montana State Billings’ women’s cross country team took second place at the South Dakota Mines Cross Country Invitational Saturday afternoon. The women finished 29 points behind champion, Black Hills State University (31).

Lisa Minnehan led the way for the women, taking third overall, and covering the 3.1 mile course in 20:08. She finished 53 seconds behind the winner, Wendy O’Lexey, of Black Hills State (19:15). Leah Thompson was second across the line for the Yellojackets, finishing 11th overall in a time of 21:01, followed closely by teammates Mary Owen (21:13) and Katie Thiel (21:15) who finished 13th and 14th respectively.

MSUB then had three runners finish 20th through 22nd, as Kristen Yeley led that group with a 21:35, followed by Sarah Jackson (21:36) and Mykel Ler (21:56). Natasha Fredrickson rounded out the MSUB runners, finishing in 45th, with a time of (25:47).

On the men’s side, Daniel Lombardi led the way for the Yellowjackets who finished sixth with 128 total points. Lombardi was 11th overall, finishing the 7,920 meter course in 27:45. Next across for MSUB was Tyson Vanderby who finished 31st with a 28:45.

Finishing closely behind Vanderby was a collection of Yellojackets, as Mar Bolt finished in 34th (28:51), followed by Travis Buttleman in 35th (28:52), Ryan Blomback in 36th (28:54) and Travis Hutchinson in 37th (29:01). Also finishing for MSUB were Tucker Shuler (30:14), Phil Holliday (32:17) and Kelley Miller (36:15).

The cross country team will be back in action next weekend as it travels to Bozeman, Mont. for the Montana State University Invitational on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.