Simison top 10 again at Montana State Classic

Saturday, September 15

Bozeman, Mont.

Montana

Montana State Classic

9/15/2018 11:55:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Results Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Montana freshman Erica Simison had her second top-10 finish in as many collegiate races when she ran to a sixth-place showing on Saturday morning at the Montana State Classic at Bridger Creek Golf Course in Bozeman.

The Grizzlies put six in the top 19 overall to finish in second place, behind Big Sky Conference preseason favorite Montana State and two points ahead of Idaho State.

"The women had a much better race (than they did two weeks ago at the Clash of the Inland Northwest). We adjusted the race plan, and they did a great job executing it," said coach Vicky Pounds.

The Montana men's team finished third behind the Bobcats and Bengals. The Grizzlies didn't place anyone in the top 13, but they had four in the top 17, five in the top 21.

"There were a couple of them not feeling at the top of their game, but overall I'm happy with the results," said Pounds. "We had some good times and put in a good effort. It feels like we're headed in the right direction."

Simison was seventh at the Clash of the Inland Northwest. On a longer course and against stronger competition, she improved on that on Saturday, covering the three-mile course in a time of 17:37.

(9/17/2018) CC: Montana State Classic (9.15.18)

Madeline Hamilton (18:00) and Samantha Engebretsen (18:03) placed 12th and 13th, with Jessica Bailey (18:18), Hannah Wylie (18:20) and Rachel Torrey (18:25) all cracking the top 20 as well.

"We had Maddy and Erica go out and work together, then we had the rest of the girls go out as a pack," said Pounds.

"I was super impressed with Erica. She was running with some big names and finished strong. Maddy's fitness is there to be closer to Erica at the finish. We just need to get her trusting in herself and learning how to push through the middle part of the race."

While the men's team had just a seven-second gap between Kyle Peterson, who placed 14th in a time of 26:06 over the five-mile course, and Nathan Wellington, 17th and the team's No. 4 runner with a time of 26:13, it wasn't quite the pack running the results might suggest.

In between Peterson and Wellington were Kyle Kredo, 15th in 26:06, and Dillon May, 16th in 26:09. Ben Vanderbosch was just outside the top 20, coming in 21st in a time of 26:22.

"There were times in the race when they got separated a little bit," said Pounds. "We didn't do quite as good a job of running in a tight pack as the results show.

"Some of the guys need to work on their confidence, and for those who weren't feeling great, it can be hard to trust yourself and go when you normally would."

Montana State went 1-2 in the women's race, with Kelsi Lasota and Samantha Kelderman clocking times of 17:13 and 17:19. The Bobcats also went 1-2 in the men's race. Ty Mogan ran a 24:51, Duncan Hamilton a 25:16.

The Grizzlies will host the Montana Invitational at the UM Golf Course on Friday evening, Sept. 28.