FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu October 22, 2016 Aiken leads women’s cross country at GNAC championships MSUB Cross Country on Facebook | MSUB Cross Country on ISSUU | GNAC WXC Results
Freshman Nikki Aiken led the MSUB women’s cross country team during the GNAC championships.
Freshman Nikki Aiken leads the MSUB women’s cross country team’s performance at the GNAC championships. BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Competing in her first Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s cross country championships, MSUB freshman Nikki Aiken led the Yellowjacket effort during the meet contested at Lake Padden Park Saturday. Aiken competed the 6k course in 24:56.50 for 64th place at the event hosted by Western Washington. Senior Rio Frame was 69th in 25:07.20. The Yellowjacket team placed 11th in the 11-school conference field, posting a final score of 324. Defending champion Alaska Anchorage successfully defended its title, winning the team championship with 45 points. The Seawolves’ Caroline Kurgat won the individual crown in 21:17.10. UAA placed three runners in the top-10. Simon Fraser finished the team competition second with 56 points and Seattle Pacific was third with 92 points. Junior Bailey Bomar covered the course in 25:28.70 for 76th place. The graduate of Billings West High School jumped 10 places from last year, shaving almost a minute off her time from the 2015 championships. The very young MSUB team
was completed with freshmen Lydia Foster finishing fourth for the Yellowjackets in 25:32.90 (79th) and Catrina Schuchard fifth in 26:30.30 (87th). Sarah Beatty (27:36.60, 90th) and Ella McKenzie (27:39.90, 91st) completed the results for MSU Billings. GNAC Special Award Winners Athlete of the Year: Caroline Kurgat, UAA Freshman of the Year: Jordyn Block, UAA Newcomer of the Year: Shannon Porter, SMU UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will turn their attention to the home-hosted 2016 NCAA Division II west region championships on Nov. 5. The event returns to Billings after MSUB hosted the 2014 meet as competitors will race on the course at Amend Park. The women’s 6K race begins at 11:15 a.m., with the men’s race preceding at 10:00 a.m. For complete details on the championships, please visit www.msubsports.com. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--