Case, Grizzlies win again in Billings

Friday, October 4

Billings, Mont.

12:00 PM

Montana

Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open

Griz Cross Country Races during a cross country meet at the University of Montana Golf Course in Missoula, Montana on Friday Sept. 20, 2024.

Photo by: Ella Palulis/University of Montana

10/4/2024 3:47:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Results

By: Montana Sports Information

For the second straight meet, the Montana cross country teams swept the competition as the Grizzlies won the men's and women's team competitions at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open on Friday in Billings with scores of 42 and 28.

Abigail Case also did something that no Grizzly in nearly a decade has done by winning her second consecutive race. Case ran a time of 22:30.7 to win the women's 6K, and by doing so became the first Grizzly since Makena Morley in 2015 to win multiple races in the same season.

It's also the first time since 2019 that Montana as a team has had multiple first-place finishes in the same year.

"It was a meet that both were expecting to have a chance to win and they did a good job coming through with that," head coach Doug Fraley said. "Great for Abi Case getting her second win in a row and just continuing to lead our women's team. It's what we were hoping for when we brought her in as a transfer and she's proven to be a really good team leader both on and off the course for the young ladies on our team."

Behind her, freshman Heidi Olson stepped up and ran a career-best time. Olson finished 5^th overall and 2^nd on Montana with a time of 22:53.1. The product of Mobridge, S.D. had finished 4^th twice and 6^th once for Montana through three races, but made a big jump on Friday.

Iris McKean continued her solid season by finishing 3^rd on Montana and 7^th overall. McKean has been top three for the Grizzlies at every meet this season and was a top 10 finisher for the second straight time.

Freshman Olivia Coll proved again that she likes the longer distance of the 6K race by finishing 8^th overall in a time of 23:03.6. Coll has finished 3^rd and 4^th on Montana's roster in the two 6K races, and finished 7^th and 8^th in the two longer races.

Shay Pederson rounded out the Grizzly runners in the top 10 overall with a time of 23:06.4.

The men won for the second straight week, defeating host Rocky Mountain by 13 points behind another solid team effort. All season long, Henry Ballinger has led Montana across the line with Carson Steckelberg running right with him.

The duo flipped it around this time with Steckelberg finishing as the top Grizzly for the first time in his career. Ballinger came in a few seconds later as the two both cracked the top 10 overall with times of 25:22.4 and 25:24.9.

"Really great for Carson to lead us today. He's been chasing Henry around all season and has been just a few seconds behind him," Fraley said. "Today, he was able to flip the script a little bit, which is great. Him and Henry are just solid as a rock in the one-two spots."

Zachary Giesch was the third Grizzly across the line, his best finish of the year, with a time of 25:38.3. Keagen Crosby, a transfer from Colorado State, remained consistent with another 4^th place finish in a time of 25:50.8. Luke Mest joined the two inside the top 20 overall as the freshman ran a time of 25:52.8.

"Great to see Zach pop up in the number three spot on the men's side," Fraley said. "He's been training hard and we know he has the talent to run like that when things are right for him, so I'm happy to see him up there."

Lane Krautschun and Colin Shaules were in the top 30 and Truman Thompson and Morgan Amano rounded out the finishers for the Grizzly men.

The Grizzlies will have next week off before returning to action for the LC State Invite on Oct. 19. It will be the final regular season meet for Montana before they head to Pocatello, Idaho for the Big Sky Championships on Nov. 1.

"All in all, another good, solid meet for our crew. It's more experience gained and now we get a two-week period to train and get honed in for a step up in competition at LC State against some Big Sky schools and then again at the Big Sky Championships, obviously one of the best conferences in the country."

WOMEN'S RESULTS
1. Abigail Case (22:30.7)
5. Heidi Olson (22:53.1*)
7. Iris McKean (23:02.2)
8. Olivia Coll (23:03.6)
10. Shay Pederson (23:06.4)
15. Libby Hartz (23:41.4)
22. Sofia Hinderman (24:05.0)
38. Ashtyn Wagner (25:07.2)
41. Lucy Thompson (25:23.9)

MEN'S RESULTS
8. Carson Steckelberg (25:22.4)
10. Henry Ballinger (25:24.9)
14. Zachary Giesch (25:38.3)
17. Keagen Crosby (25:50.8)
18. Luke Mest (25:52.8)
21. Lane Krautschun (26:09.3)
29. Colin Shaules (26:32.9)
43. Truman Thompson (27:19.5)
49. Morgan Amano (27:31.7)

*Denotes PR

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana - 28
2. South Dakota Mines – 51
3. Carroll College – 87
4. Montana Tech – 108
5. Rocky Mountain – 113
6. MSU-Billings – 149
7. Montana Western - 190

MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana – 42
2. Rocky Mountain – 55
3. South Dakota Mines – 56
4. Carroll College – 62
5. Montana Tech - 162
6. Montana Western - 170