Four Jacket Runners Make All-Conference (10/22/05)

DALLAS, TX – Four Montana State-Billings cross-country runners, including three men, placed in the top 10 at Saturday’s Heartland Conference championships to earn all-conference honors.  The Yellowjacket men placed second in the team race; the Lady Yellowjackets placed fourth.

“We’re happy for the guys,” said Yellowjacket head coach Dave Coppock.  “That was the highlight of the trip for us.  It was a tough course.  It was hilly and really bumpy.  It wasn’t a great surface, but we did alright.  The three guys that made all-conference ran a great race.  The race started fast and our guys started back pack.  They ran a smart race and gained several spots in the final mile.”

Sam Hartpence (Jr., Custer, SD) was the top individual finisher for the Yellowjacket men, who edged host Dallas Baptist by two points for second place.  Hartpence placed seventh, covering the 8K course in 29:18.  He was followed closely by Matt Roseberry (So., Chinook, MT) in eighth place in 29:19.  Jared Rensvold (So., Wolf Point, MT) placed ninth in 29:45.  Hartpence, Roseberry, and Rensvold each received all-conference honors.  Andy Zoeller (So., Billings, MT) placed 14th in 30:53, and Joe Kragt (Jr., Worden, MT) placed 18th in 31:37.

Western New Mexico won the team race and the Mustangs’ Lee Chavez took top individual honors in 27:09.  The Mustangs swept the team titles in their first and final year in the league.  The women’s team edged Lincoln for the team title by three points.  Western will leave for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference next year.  Katie Noss of Dallas Baptist won the women's individual race in 19:45. 

The Yellowjacket women placed fourth in the team competition behind Western New Mexico, Lincoln, and Dallas Baptist.  Susan Kocab (Fr., Billings, MT) was the Lady Jackets’ only top 10 finisher and all-conference winner.  She placed seventh, finishing the 5K in 20:53.  The Yellowjacket scoring runners were rounded out by Tracie Overberg (Sr., Dodson, MT) in 16th place in 21:56, Cierra Dornfeld (Fr., Woodbury, MN) in 17th in 21:58, Tiffany Piplica (Jr., Riverton, WY) in 18th in 22:08, and Kym Island (Fr., Columbia Falls, MT) in 26th in 23:25.

MSU Billings will host Dickinson State in a dual race next Saturday at Riverfront Park.  The collegiate race will be preceded by the annual Yellowjacket Fun Run at 9:00 a.m.  Call 657-2374 to pre-register for the fun run.

Men’s Team Standings
1. Western New Mexico – 21
2. Montana State-Billings – 51
3. Dallas Baptist – 53
4. St. Edward’s – 106
5. Oklahoma Panhandle State – 118

Women’s Team Standings
1. Western New Mexico – 49
2. Lincoln – 52
3. Dallas Baptist – 63
4. Montana State-Billings – 84
5. St. Mary’s – 102
6. Oklahoma Panhandle State – 175
7. St. Edward’s - 191