Cross Country Heads to Montana State for Fleet Feet Invitational

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s and women’s cross country teams return to action Saturday at the annual Montana State Fleet Feet Invitational at the Bridger Creek Golf Course in Bozeman.  The men’s five-mile race will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the women’s three mile race at 9:45 a.m.

A total of 15 teams will be competing in the event, including NCAA Division I schools Weber State, University of Montana, Montana State University, University of Utah, Utah State and Utah Valley State.  In addition to MSUB, Carroll College, Rocky Mountain College, Blackfeet Community College, Concordia College, Dickinson State, Flathead Valley College, Gillette College and University of Great Falls also will be competing. 

The women’s team is coming off an impressive finish at the South Dakota Mines Cross Country Invitational last weekend as it finished second behind Black Hills State.  Lisa Minnehan led the way for the Yellowjackets as she finished third overall, covering the 3.1-mile course in 20:08.  Leah Thompson was second crossing the line for MSUB 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.

On the men’s side for MSUB, the Yellowjackets finished sixth last week at the South Dakota Mines Cross Country Invitational.  Leading the way for MSUB was Daniel Lombardi who finished 11th on the 7,920-meter course in 27:45.  Tyson Vanderby was second in for the Yellowjackets in 31st place with a time of 28:45.

MSUB opened the season with the Rocky duel (Sept. 5) as the Yellowjacket women downed the Bears, while RMC edged the Yellowjacket men.  Minnehan led the way for MSUB on the women’s side as she finished second (19:22) behind RMC’s Amber Watson (18:50).  The Yellowjackets finished five of the next six to defeat their cross-town rivals.

Lombardi had a strong showing in the opener as he finished second behind RMC’s Cesar Mireles in a time of 16:21, 17 seconds behind Mireles.  Vanderby was second crossing the line for MSUB and fifth overall in a time of 16:59.