FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu September 15, 2016 Yellowjackets to compete in home state at Bozeman Running Co. Invitational MSUB Cross Country on Facebook | MSUB Cross Country on ISSUU | TFRRS Results | GNAC Release Preview Interviews with freshman Ronald Venema and head coach Dave Coppock
The Yellowjackets compete for the first time this season in their home state on Saturday in Bozeman.
After two meets in South Dakota, this week the Yellowjackets are competing in Montana at the Bozeman Running Company Invitational. BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjackets will compete for the first time this season at a meet in their home state during the Montana State University/Bozeman Running Company Invitational at the Bridger Creek Golf Course, Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Montana State University Billings competed the last two weeks in South Dakota at events hosted by NCAA Division II schools. This week’s meet in Bozeman includes competition from all across the region and has competitors from Division I, II, and the NAIA. “This meet will be a big test for both teams with the large number of competitive teams,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “We’ll see several DI teams as well as some strong DII and NAIA programs. Each week we’ve worked on different aspects of racing and the focus this week will be to work on even-paced running and trying to maintain their
race pace in the middle miles. The new people will get a taste of running in a larger field, as well, which should help prepare them for the conference and regional championships later in the season.” Beginning with the South Dakota Mines Invite and the Gage McSpadden Memorial Invitational, MSU Billings has been using the early events to work on strategy and bring-up the new members of the squad. The Yellowjackets have six upperclassmen and five sophomores and freshmen on the team this season. Junior Jorey Egeland has been the ‘Jackets top finisher for the opening two races of the season with a sixth and third place result. Egeland posted a time of 26:52.0, running negative splits in the opening 8K event of the year, and 20:29.2 last week on the 6K course. Senior Garrett Love placed ninth in the opening week in 27:19.0 and moved up to fifth last week in 20:43.5. Senior Josh Panasuk, junior Mark Hovland, sophomore Tyus Mendoza, and freshman Ronald Venema have been in MSUB’s top-5 this season. Hovland was just out of the top-10 last week with an 11th place finish at the race hosted by Black Hills State. Panasuk was 13th in Spearfish as MSUB placed runners in the 3-5-10-11-13 spots. Montana State University / Bozeman Running Company Invitational Host Montana State University Date Saturday, Sept. 17 Location Bridger Creek Golf Course Start Time 9:00 a.m. Distance 5 miles Montana State, Montana, MSU Billings, CSU-Pueblo, Utah State, Wyoming, North Dakota, Teams Carroll College, Rocky Mountain College, College of Idaho, Weber State, Idaho State Results msubsports.com --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--