Griz men win in Idaho

Saturday, February 6

Lewiston, Idaho

Montana

Idaho Orchards Invitational

2/6/2021 6:05:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Results Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana men's cross country team, running its only race before the Big Sky Conference Championships in three weeks, had a strong debut to its first-ever winter season, winning the Idaho Orchards Invitational in Lewiston on Saturday afternoon over Idaho and Eastern Washington.

The Grizzlies, led by Joel Mendez's runner-up finish, had eight of the top 11 finishers.

"They represented what we wanted to do really, really well. We ran what we hoped we would run, which was a strong race," said coach Clint May.

The Montana women, with Beatrix Frissell placing third and Olivia Lackland Henry sixth, finished third behind Idaho and Washington State.

May has been quietly optimistic for months about his men's team, which he believes has a chance to start moving up the ranks of the Big Sky, which is no easy task given the league's strength at the top and overall depth.

The Grizzlies applied May's belief in them to the course on Saturday.

Behind Mendez, a transfer from Paradise Valley Community College who finished second, came another newcomer, AJ Eckmann, in fourth, Maxwell Scott in sixth, Nathan Carter in seventh and Hunter May in eighth.

Between Mendez and Will Dauenhauer, who was Montana's No. 8 runner but 11th overall, was a split of less than 40 seconds.

"The men's team was really strong," said May. "When you look at our top eight guys, they split 38 seconds. Over eight kilometers, that makes me happy."

Mendez was the team's most pleasant surprise. He joined the early pack of Carter Ledwith, a junior from Eastern Washington, and Shea Mattson, a freshman from Idaho.

Ledwith would pull away for a winning time of 25:07. Mendez clocked a 25:12, Mattson a 25:29.

"That was a bit of a surprise. Those guys broke away even before the mile mark," said May. "He had a great day and really put himself in position to win it."

Racing with just eight athletes, the Montana women came in behind the Vandals and Cougars but put its top four runners across the line ahead of Eastern Washington's first finisher.

Idaho's Malaina Thacker, an All-Big Sky miler, covered the five-kilometer course in a time of 16:53. Washington State's Neema Kimtai was second at 17:00.

That Frissell, an All-Big Sky cross country performer as a freshman, led Montana and finished third overall in a time of 17:02 was no surprise.

That came from Lackland Henry, who finished sixth in her collegiate debut in a time of 17:22.

"Just a great, great race for her. She just ran really tough," said May. "Collectively we came out about as good as I had hoped for. I was really pleased with how our women did."

The Big Sky Championships will be held in Riverdale, Utah, on Saturday, Feb. 27.

"It was a good day for where we're at with our fitness and everything else," said May. "I think they really enjoyed running at near sea level.

"We had a lot of personal bests. For a February meet, that's pretty incredible."