Top-10 finishes highlight home meet for MSUB cross country

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings cross country teams each put up strong performances at home Friday morning, playing host at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open.

Both squads took fourth place overall at the meet, with the MSUB men finishing fourth of nine teams with a team score of 106, while the Yellowjacket women placed fourth out of seven teams with 121 points. The teams saw a number of athletes record PR marks as they continued to round into form, competing in front of a home crowd.

In the men's race, freshman Logan Milek continued his strong freshman campaign with another quality finish, taking fifth place overall with a time of 25:19.0. Milek improved his 8K PR by more than 28 seconds. The Lander, Wyo., native has placed as the Yellowjackets' top finisher in each meet this season.

Behind Milek, Jimmy Reed came in 23^rd with a PR time of 26:44.3, improving on his career best by 11 seconds. A season-best 8K performance for Will Hyatt saw the fifth-year senior place 33^rd with a time of 27:35.0. Hyatt led a pack of three Yellowjackets across the finish line, finishing just ahead of freshman Mason Gregorie, whose time of 27:36.3 improved upon his PR mark by more than 40 seconds and placed him 35^th, while John Achter crossed the line in 36^th place with a mark of 27:37.4, also setting a big PR.

Also setting PRs at the meet were Donald Voetberg, who ran a time of 28:13.9, and Ben Carleski, who finished with a time of 29:46.2.

For the Yellowjacket women, Micah Strong led the way, placing eighth overall with a time of 23:37.9. Ally Coey was the next fastest 'Jacket on the course, placing 24^th with a time of 24:40.1. The next three placers for the 'Jackets crossed the finish line in consecutive order, with Gracyn Rock placing 37^th with a time of 25:46.8, Sara McCabe placing 38^th with a time of 25:49.6, and Kinley Bruno placing 39^th with a PR finish, crossing the line with a time of 25:51.3.

Also earning PRs on the day was Claire Dayton with a time of 28:34.1.

The buzz: Milek and Strong were selected as the Athletes of the Meet.

The 'Jackets will take part in the Rocky/MSUB/Dawson CC Invite on Wednesday, October 14 at Riverfront Park. Both teams will run a 5K, with the men beginning at 4:15 p.m. and the women's race starting at 4:45 p.m.