Yellowjacket Runners Picked Near Top of HLC (8/17/06)
Click here for Coach Coppock's comments on the
Heartland Conference cross-country poll

BILLINGS, MT – In a poll of conference coaches and sports information directors, both Montana State-Billings cross-country teams have been picked to finish in the top half of the Heartland Conference this year.  The Yellowjacket men were tabbed second in the six-team league while the Lady Yellowjackets were picked third in a seven-team race.

“Both our men’s and women’s teams made significant progress in their conditioning between last season and this season,” says Yellowjacket head coach Dave Coppock, who is entering his 18^th season at the helm.  “They put in good winter and spring training, and I’m expecting them to be greatly improved.”

The Yellowjacket men finished second to Western New Mexico at the conference championship meet in Dallas last year.  MSU Billings edged Dallas Baptist by two points in that race, but the Patriots are the favorites in this year’s preseason poll.  Following DBU and MSUB in the preseason poll are Incarnate Word, St. Edward’s, Oklahoma Panhandle State, and St. Mary’s.

The Yellowjackets return their top three runners from last year.  Sam Hartpence (Custer, SD) finished seventh at the conference championships.  MSU Billings will also return Matt Roseberry (Chinook, MT) and Jarred Rensvold (Wolf Point, MT), who finished eighth and ninth respectively.

The Yellowjacket women were picked to finish behind Dallas Baptist and Lincoln.  They finished fourth at last year’s Heartland Conference championships.  The women’s poll is rounded out by St. Mary’s, Incarnate Word, St. Edward’s, and Oklahoma Panhandle State.

The Jackets’ top runner last year, Susan Kocab (Billings, MT), will not return this year.  She finished seventh at the conference championships.  MSUB’s top returnees will be Cierra Dornfeld (Woodbury, MN) and Tiffany Piplica (Riverton, WY).  They finished 17^th and 18^th respectively at the conference race last year.  Coppock also expects freshman Teri Lea McCormick of Hardin to fill one of the top spots in the Lady Jackets’ lineup.

Women’s Heartland Conference XC Poll
1-Dallas Baptist
2-Lincoln
3-Montana State – Billings
4-St. Mary’s
5-Incarnate Word
6-St. Edward’s
7-Oklahoma Panhandle State

Men’s Heartland Conference XC Poll
1-Dallas Baptist
2-Montana State – Billings
3-Incarnate Word
4-St. Edward’s
5-Oklahoma Panhandle State
6-St. Mary’s