Jackets Split on Opening Weekend of Cross Country

Women's Results
Men's Results

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings cross country teams debuted Saturday morning at the Montana State University Billings Open at Riverfront Park in Billings. The women’s team took second place in a triangle meet, while the men dropped an 11 point decision to Rocky Mountain College in a dual meet format.

The women’s race was won by Black Hills State with a total of 20 points, while the Jackets took second with 50 and Rocky finished in third with 54 total points. Black Hills State placed their top four runners in the first five positions.

Individually, the open race was won by former MSUB standout, Sarah Graves, in a time of 18:10. The collegiate race was won by Black Hills States’ Erin Curran, who covered the 5K course in a time of 19:08.

Curran was followed by teammate, Abi Bever, who took home a second place finish just ahead of MSUB’s Katie Thiel. The MSUB senior runner from Powell, Wyo., ran a time of 19:21 and was 24 seconds ahead of sophomore Mary Owen (19:45) in sixth.

Rounding out the scoring for the Yellowjackets were Sarah Jackson in 10th (20:10), Mykel Ler in 12th (20:21) and Shena Wald in 19th (21:12). Also running for the Yellowjackets was Melanie Bock who crossed the line in a time of 22:37.

On the men’s side, Rocky took the top two positions to help edge the Yellowjackets 22-33 in the team race. Noah Kiprono won the 5K race in a time of 15:25 as he led wire to wire.

Daniel Lombardi was the first Jacket across the line, placing third in a time of 15:58. He was followed by Tyson Vanderby in fourth with a time of 16:17.

Also scoring for the Yellowjackets were Taylor Canfield in seventh (16:29), Chase Robinson in ninth (16:33) and Mark Bolt in 10th (16:41). Rounding out the top seven runners for MSUB were Brian Potter in 11th (16:45) and Ryan Blomback in 14th (16:54).

The Yellowjackets will be back on the course this Thursday, Sept. 9, as they travel to Spearfish, S.D., to compete in the Black Hills State Invitational. Races are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. local time.