Lady Jacket Harriers Crowned HLC Champions (10/21/06)

Race Photos

BILLINGS, MT – All the time and miles ran paid off for the Montana State-Billings women’s cross country team as they captured the 2006 Heartland Conference Championship Saturday at Riverfront Park.  MSU Billings played host to the HLC Championships for both the men and women.

The men’s 8K race featured six teams.  Joining the host team MSU Billings was St. Edward’s, Dallas Baptist, Incarnate Word, Oklahoma Panhandle and provisional member Newman University.  Because of their provisional membership in the Heartland Conference Newman was not eligible for the team competition but would be allowed to count individual placements in the race.

The Hilltoppers of St. Edward’s University claimed both the individual men’s title and the team competition.  David Fuentes finished atop the leader board turning in a time of 26:24 to be named the men’s Heartland Conference Champion.  Newmans’ Blake Henry placed second with a 26:31 followed by James Cotter of St. Edward’s rounding out the third spot with a time of 26:55.  The top finisher for the Yellowjacket men was Matt Roseberry (Chinook, MT).  Roseberry finished in fourth place with a time of 27:13.  Teammate Jarred Rensvold (Wolf Point, MT) was seventh with a 27:35. 

In the men’s team competition St. Edward’s was first with 45 points followed by Dallas Baptist with 51.  Third place belonged to Incarnate Word finishing with 54.  The Jackets and Oklahoma Panhandle rounded out fourth and fifth places with scores of 70 and 136 respectively.

The women’s 5K race was contested by seven teams with Newman participating only in the individual race because of their provisional status.  Joining the Lady Jackets included Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s University, Dallas Baptist, Lincoln University, St. Edward’s, and Oklahoma Panhandle.

Nessa Paul representing Lincoln University was named the HLC Champion in the women’s individual race.  Paul finished the 5K race in a time of 19:03.  Melissa Ortiz of Newman finished second with a time of 19:20 placing her second.  Paul’s teammate Kaydian Howell finished third turning in a time of 19:36.  The top placer for the Lady Jackets was Teri Lea McCormick (Hardin, MT).  The freshman standout finished the race in sixth place with a 20:02.  Crystal Roseberry (Chinook, MT) finished eighth for the Jackets with a time of 20:17.

“Dave (Coppock) set the stage for this dynamic group,” added Piplica.  “We have been out at Riverfront Park every day this week running mile repeats around the park and not only does he know the mechanics of developing distance runners, he also knows how to inspire.  He is a guy you can’t help but work hard for.”

Coach Coppock said he thought the Lady Jackets have as good a chance as they ever have to take a conference team title, and the women did just that.  The Lady Jackets have permanently left their mark on the Heartland Conference as this is the final season MSUB will be in the Texas-based conference.  Next season the Yellowjackets will join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Although the Lady Jackets were picked to finish the season third based on the HLC preseason poll, the determined group of young ladies stood alone with 39 points and the Heartland Conference title in hand.  Incarnate Word was second with 62 points followed by St. Mary’s University in third with 74 points. 

“Our conference championship is the result of an inherently cohesive hard-working team,” said senior runner Tiffany Piplica.  “We needed all eleven women, and when you start to feel fatigue at the midpoint you become motivated to work for the good of the whole.”

The Yellowjacket cross country team would like to give a special thank you to all that helped in making the championship race a success.  The Race Director and Rim Runners are a true asset to the Yellowjacket cross country program.

The Yellowjackets are set to host an invitational run for collegiate runners preceded by a Fun-Run on October 28.  The collegiate race is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. at Riverfront Park.  For more information regarding the Fun-Run, please contact the Yellowjacket Athletics department at 657-2369.

Top 5 Men                                              Top 5 Women
David Fuentes (SEU) – 26:24                      Nessa Paul (LU) – 19:03
Blake Henry (NU) – 26:31                           Melissa Ortiz (NU) – 19:20
James Cotter (SEU) – 26:55                       Kaydian Howell (LU) – 19:36
Matt Roseberry (MSUB) – 27:13                  Camille Johnson (NU) – 19:42
Felix Rodriguez (DBU) – 27:27                     Klara Garcia (UIW) – 19:57

Men’s Team Competition                        Women’s Team Competition
St. Edward’s University – 45                       Montana State-Billings – 39
Dallas Baptist University – 51                      Incarnate Word – 62
Incarnate Word – 54                                 St. Mary’s University – 74
Montana State-Billings – 70                        Dallas Baptist University – 97
Oklahoma Panhandle – 136                         Lincoln University – 105
                                                            St. Edward’s University – 181
                                                            Oklahoma Panhandle - 188

Yellowjacket Men                                  Yellowjacket Women
4. Matt Roseberry - 27:13                         6. Teri Lea McCormick - 20:02
7. Jarred Rensvold - 27:35                         8. Crystal Roseberry - 20:17
21. Joe Kragt -29:16                                11. Tiffany Piplica - 20:36
29. Andy Zoeller - 31:15                           13. Erin Mueller - 20:48
32. Abram Hagstrom - 32:26                      14. Cierra Dornfeld - 20:55
                                                            20. Kristy Burns - 21:46
                                                            22. Colleen Dalimata - 21:55
                                                            27. Kym Island - 22:20
                                                            29. Kisa Kron - 22:28
                                                            40. Erin Gannon - 23:35