FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 7, 2016 Yellowjacket Open set for Saturday at Riverfront Park MSUB Cross Country on Facebook | MSUB Cross Country on ISSUU | TFRRS Results Preview Interviews with junior Mark Hovland and head coach Dave Coppock
Junior Mark Hovland and the MSUB men’s cross country team are hosting the Yellowjacket Open at Riverfront Park.
The MSUB men’s cross country program is hosting the Yellowjacket Open on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Riverfront Park. BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjacket men’s cross country team is hosting their second home event of the season on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Riverfront Park. MSUB is welcoming several NCAA Division II men’s teams to the 4-mile event that begins at 10:40 a.m. Montana State University Billings is coming off a strong performance last week at the University of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Shootout. Garrett Love and Jorey Egeland placed the Yellowjacket effort with finishes of 32nd and 39th respectively. Love completed the 8k distance in 27:17 followed by Egeland in 27:35. Moving up for the team was an impressive showing from the middle Yellowjacket pack. Tyus Mendoza, Ronald Venema, Mark Hovland, Josh Panasuk, and Ivan Colmenero were tightly packed at the finish line, all within 10 places of each other across the tape.
“Garrett and Jorey continue to be running well and we had some of our younger guys, Tyus and Ron move up quite a bit last week at the University of Colorado,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “This week will be a fairly short race for the men at 4 miles, so we’ll still get a good tune-up for Oct. 22, at the GNAC Championships.” Expected to compete at the meet alongside MSUB is Black Hills State, the University of Mary, Rocky Mountain College, and Montana Western. Last week, Black Hills State reached a program-high ranking of No. 14 in the United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll. The Yellow Jackets are also ranked fifth in the South Central region in NCAA Division II. From BHSU, Jonah Thiesen is the defending national champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and was the highest finisher from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at the Griak Invitational two weeks ago with a 17th place result. The University of Mary competed at the Griak Invitational, finishing 15th amongst the 40 teams. Sophomore Derek Myers paced the Marauders with a 73rd place finish in 27:44.70. Also competing at Riverfront Park will be fellow Billings school Rocky Mountain College. The Battlin’ Bears are ranked No. 21 in the NAIA national coaches’ poll released on Sept. 28. The women’s 5K kicks off the event with a 10 a.m. start time followed by the men’s 4-mile at 10:40 a.m. Montana State University Billings / Yellowjacket Open Host Montana State University Billings Date Saturday, Oct. 8 Location Riverfront Park Start Time 10:40 a.m. Distance 4 mile Black Hills State, University of Mary, MSU Billings, Montana Western, Rocky Mountain Teams College Results msubsports.com COMING UP: MSUB heads to Western Washington for the GNAC Championships on Oct. 22. For the second time in its history, MSU Billings is hosting the NCAA Division II west region cross country championships. The regional meet is set for Nov. 5, at Amend Park with the men’s 8K beginning at 10 a.m. followed by the women’s 6K at 11:15 a.m. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--