FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, November 5, 2016 ‘Jacket women close season by hosting NCAA West Region Championships Saturday
Finishing the 2016 fall season at home on Saturday, MSUB’s women’s cross country team hosts the NCAA Division II West Region Championships at Amend Park in Billings, Mont. BILLINGS, Mont. – Rio Frame led the pack of Montana State University Billings women’s cross country runners in her final collegiate race, as the Yellowjackets closed their fall season on Saturday morning by hosting the NCAA Division II West Region Cross Country Championships at Amend Park. Returning to Billings for the second time in the last three years, the regional championships brought more than 30 men’s and women’s teams and 400 student-athletes from the western United States to Amend Park on a brisk but sunny morning. “This meet is really exciting to host, and it is great to have all of the support from the community,” commented MSUB head coach Dave Coppock. “It has been a great experience, and I hope we get the bid again. I thought it went really smooth today, and the weather cooperated so that makes it fun.”
Senior Laura Aceves of Cal State San Bernardino held off the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat to take the individual title, as the former finished with a time of 20:55.95 with a 5:36 mile pace. Kurgat was less than four seconds behind at 20:59.01, and the duo crossed the line well ahead of third-place Shannon Porter of Saint Martin’s University (21:16.64). Though Chico State University didn’t have a top-three finisher, the Wildcats had four runners place in the top-20 as they ran away with the team title and scored 70 points. Sadie Gastelum and Karlie Garcia finished fifth and sixth, respectively for the ‘Cats, and Alex Burkhart (16th) and Hannah Dorman (18th) were not far behind for the champions. For the host Yellowjackets, Frame finished with a time of 24:36.46, and checked in 151st overall. The fourth-year senior raced on her home course for the final time in her career, leading the team which finished in 29th place overall. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and this place has become my home,” Frame commented after the race. “I was just excited to be a Yellowjacket, and am excited to become a Yellowjacket alum after my track season. I can’t wait to see what the young team that we have can do when their careers keep going.” Redshirt freshman Nikki Aiken checked in with a time of 24:52.92, and finished in 160th place as the closest Yellowjacket behind Frame. Junior Bailey Bomar kept with Aiken’s pace throughout the 6k course, finishing in 167th place with a time of 25:04.28. Freshman Nikki Aiken was the second-highest finisher for MSUB with a time of 24:52.92.
Freshman Lydia Foster led the lower pack of ‘Jackets, checking in with a 188th-place finish and a time of 25:48.30. Catrina Schuchard and Sarah Beatty crossed the line within two spots of one another, with the former taking 192nd place in 26:14.10 and the latter posting a 194th-place finish in 26:38.34. Freshman Ella McKenzie completed the field for the ‘Jackets, finishing in 200th place with a time of 27:39.99. “Rio went out and had a good race, and that was her fourth and final regional meet,” Coppock said. “I think she’ll go out saying she ran a hard race. Our women have a ways to go, and they’re still pretty young.” Among the 30 teams that competed on Saturday, Simon Fraser University was the top finisher from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, as the Clan took second place with a score of 103. The University of Alaska Anchorage was right behind in third place with 111 points, Point Loma Nazarene took fourth with 124 points, and Cal Poly Pomona finished in a distant fifth place with 164 points. Saturday marked the second time that the regional championship event was held in Billings, as the Yellowjackets also played the host role during the fall of 2014. Frame was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for MSUB. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--