The Montana State Cross Country program put together a strong performance at the Big Sky Championship on Saturday in Pocatello, Idaho. The MSU women took fourth overall and the men hurried themselves to a bronze medal for the Blue & Gold. Four Bobcats earned All-Big Sky Conference nods for their efforts at Centennial Course. (Men's Team Results | Men's Individual Results | Women's Team Results | Women's Individual Results)
The women, after a preseason ranking at sixth, came out firing on all cylinders and ran their way to a fourth place finish of nine Big Sky schools with 89 points. Heather Haug, in only her third meet of the season, placed fourth overall, just six seconds out of medal contention. The Livingston, Mont. native paced herself to a time of 17:52.02 in the Women's 5,000 meter race. Haug's finish marks the highest of her collegiate career at the Big Sky race and also her first All-Big Sky honors in the sport.
Also crossing the finish line in the top ten was Keely West with a time of 18:18.43. In her sophomore season, West also made the All-Big Sky squad for finishing within the top ten runners. In 2010, West finished 50th.
Rounding out the women's scorers were Heather Demorest who came in 16th in 18:42.75; Lauren Kuennen in 29th in 19:31.31 and Nicole Tester, in her debut conference meet, in 43rd with a time of 20:17.77.
“The women really left it all on the course today,” said head coach Dale Kennedy. “To step up two places from the beginning of the season is huge and also pick up a few all-conference honors really shows how hard these kids work and how ready they were to compete.”
Weber State won the women's team title with 40 points and were paced by three Wildcats finishes in the top ten. Amber Henry earned the gold medal with a time of 17:30.50. Weber State also held the first place preseason rankings.
In the Men's 8,000 meter race, Jacob Kirk was MSU's top finisher in ninth place. The Anchorage, Alaska native clocked in at 25:16.89. In Kirk's rookie season, he placed 25th at the championships. The sophomore garnered his first Big Sky nod, as well.
Right on the heels of Kirk was Seth Grossman, earning the first All-Big Sky team honors of his career. Grossman crossed the line in 10th place with a time of 25:18.58, edging out the 11th place finisher by just ninth-tenths of a second.
Jake Turner paced himself to 16th place in his first collegiate conference championship. The Lolo, Mont. native completed the course in 26:00.75. MSU's other scorers including Trevor Polson in 21st at 26:26.31 and Seth Garbett in 30th at 26:57.64.
“A third place finish is certainly something to be proud of for these men,” Kennedy said. “Jake [Kirk] and Seth [Grossman] have been leaders all season and for them to make the All-Big Sky team should be a huge confidence boost.”
Northern Arizona, also predicted to win the conference title at preseason, took the men's championship trophy with four of their five scorers placing in the top 10. Diego Estrada, who was the conference runner-up in 2010, grabbed the individual championship in 24:15.43.
Montana State will take two weeks for continued training before the NCAA Mountain Regional Meet. In the latest USTFCCA polls, the MSU men were ranked 12th, while the women were 15th. The Mountain Regional Meet will take place, Saturday, Nov. 12 in Provo, Utah.
