Women's cross country set for Yellowjacket Invitational

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu

October 8, 2015 Women’s cross country set for Yellowjacket Invitational MSUB Distance on Facebook Interviews with Jinise Trueblood and head coach Dave Coppock MSUB Cross Country Stack on ISSUU

Brielle Davis has finished as MSUB’s No. 1 runner in the last two races.

After a week off from racing, the MSUB women’s cross country team returns to competition with the home-hosted Yellowjacket Invitational.

BILLINGS, Mont. – After the very large Roy Griak meet two weeks ago, the Yellowjacket Invitational will be a much smaller event, with just a few schools scheduled to run the course at Amend Park.

The 26th annual Yellowjacket Invitational is set for Oct. 9 with the women scheduled to step to the start line at 10:00 a.m. for the 6,000 meter course.

Last year was the first time MSUB used the course at Amend Park, and the team is excited to return to such a fan-friendly venue.

“Amend is a really exciting place to run especially for anybody that wants to come out and watch us,” senior Jinise Trueblood said. “You can see basically see all 3 ½ - 4 miles of our women’s course. For the runners it also means you can see all of the people you are competing against, so it’s a really fun place to try and get out there on a flat course to try and set a personal best.”

With Griak behind them, the runners can start to focus on sharpening their training for the races at the end of the season.

“Griak is a really overwhelming experience you kinda just get swept up from start to finish,” Trueblood continued. “This race at Amend presents an opportunity to see where your training has brought you rather than the hundreds of people running around you.”

With five teams expected to race on Friday, the Yellowjackets will be able to see where they are as a unit and what each individual still wants to accomplish during the season.

Seniors Brielle Davis and Taylor Condon were the 1-2 runners for MSU Billings during the Montana State University Invitational and at the Roy Griak Invitational.

Behind them Trueblood and sophomore Bailey Bomar have run in the 3-4 spots.

Senior Jinise Trueblood

Freshmen Cate Klaudt and Devin McDonald have both finished in the fifth spot for the Yellowjackets this season.

“On the women’s side, we’re counting on Brielle Davis to continue to run well.” head coach Dave Coppock said. “She’s been our most consistent runner all season and should do well in this meet. Rio Frame has been battling injury the past few weeks, but I think she’s about up to full strength again. If we can get those two up near the front, our team will score well. I think the women’s team race will be tight. We finished just behind SD Mines and just ahead of Black Hills at Griak, so it’ll be a good team battle. If we’re at full strength Friday, I think we can win the women’s team race.”

Last year, MSUB senior Nocona Frame won the women’s race leading the Yellowjackets to the team title. MSUB placed runners in the 1-2-5-11-12 places for the win against Rocky Mountain College and the University of Great Falls.

Following the race, results will be available at competitivetiming.com and msubsports.com.

26th Annual Yellowjacket Invitational Date Location Start Times Distance Teams Results

Friday, Oct. 9 Amend Park Women l 10:45 a.m.

Women l 6k MSU Billings, Rocky Mountain College, Black Hills State, South Dakota School of Mines Competitive Timing, msubsports.com

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