Griz impress again at Frank Knott Classic

Saturday, October 3

Spokane, Wash.

11:00 AM (MT)

Montana

Frank Knott Classic

Scenes from the Missoula Invite on Sept. 18, 2026, at the University of Montana golf course, in Missoula.

Photo by: Marley Barboeisel/University of Montana

10/3/2026 3:38:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Results

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana cross country team came back from a week off with another impressive performance in Spokane, Wash. at the Frank Knott Classic. Luke Mest had a top-three finish in a field featuring plenty of Big Sky talent and a high-level Gonzaga team.

Mest's finish paced the Grizzly men to a third-place finish in an 18-team field. The Grizzly women had some great newcomer performances and a debut from Quinn Nelson. The Griz finished fourth place in a deep field to show great improvement as they get closer to full health.

Mest ran a time of 23:48.1 at the 8K distance, finishing just six seconds behind the winner Sam Ells of Montana State. He was two seconds behind Blaise Snow, who finished second in the event.

The junior continues his impressive season with another fast time.

"Luke continues to do what he's been doing and getting closer and closer to some really big-time guys," head coach Doug Fraley said. "It's another great step for him in the regular season and just can't wait to see what he's going to do at championship time with how consistent his races have been."

Lane Krautschun finished second for the third time this year for the Griz, running a time of 24:36.8 to finish 17^th overall in the event. Zachary Giesch missed the home race two weeks ago with illness, but returned for a top 20 finish in a time of 24:40.7.

Carson Steckelberg and Albert Turner rounded out the top five for the Grizzly men with times of 24:40.7 and 25:03.2. It's a good step for Montana as they progress toward the Big Sky Championship.

"We tightened some things up on the men's side as far as the gap between one and five," Fraley said. "I thought that was a big improvement today so this was another great step in the regular season for that group."

Olivia Coll also missed Montana's home meet two weeks ago but was back in action to lead the women's team. Coll has now led the Grizzlies in all three races that she has competed in as she finished 22^nd overall with a time of 22:18.1 in the 6K event.

Senior Malia Bradford was the second Grizzly across the line just a few seconds later, finishing 23^rd overall. Quinn Nelson made her Grizzly debut, running a time of 22:26.7 to finish 28^th.

The depth that the newcomer provides should make a difference for the team down the stretch. She was followed across the line by Heidi Olson and Rosie Conway in 33^rd and 42^nd overall.

"I feel like the women made tremendous improvements today," Fraley said. "We have most everybody back healthy and competing again and the top five were in a pretty tight grouping. It's great to see the newcomers really doing a good job stepping up for us at this point."

Montana will have another week off before competing in the regular season finale at the LC State Invitational on Oct. 17. The Big Sky Championship will be held in Flagstaff, Ariz. on Oct. 30.

MONTANA MEN'S RESULTS
1. Luke Mest (23:48.1, 3^rd)
2. Lane Krautschun (24:36.8, 17^th)
3. Zachary Giesch (24:40.7, 20^th)
4. Carson Steckelberg (24:43.5, 24^th)
5. Albert Turner (25:03.2, 30^th)
6. Henry Ballinger (25:18.3, 40^th)
7. Keagen Crosby (25:18.6, 41^st)
8. Henry Sund (25:32.9, 51^st)
9. Truman Thompson (25:36.0, 60^th)

MONTANA WOMEN'S RESULTS
1. Olivia Coll (22:18.1, 22^nd)
2. Malia Bradford (22:21.0, 23^rd)
3. Quinn Nelson (22:26.7, 28^th)
4. Heidi Olson (22:43.4, 33^rd)
5. Rosie Conway (22:58.0, 42^nd)
6. Lucy Thompson (23:19.6, 57^th)
7. Libby Hartz (24:01.6, 82^nd)

MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana State (20)
2. Gonzaga (73)
3. Montana (87)
4. Idaho (127)
5. Eastern Washington (148)
6. Redlands (Calif.) (190)
7. San Diego Mesa (230)
8. Lewis & Clark (238)
9. Whitworth (259)
10. Lewis-Clark State (294)
11. Puget Sound (302)
12. Spokane CC (307)
13. Whitman (327)
14. George Fox (375)
15. Pacific (Ore.) (419)
16. La Verne (422)
17. Linfield (541)
18. Pacific Lutheran (568)

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana State (15)
2. Gonzaga (59)
3. Eastern Washington (93)
4. Montana (132)
5. Lewis-Clark State (141)
6. Whitworth (163)
7. Spokane CC (209)
8. George Fox (241)
9. Puget Sound (266)
10. San Diego Mesa (283)
11. Redlands (Calif.) (307)
12. Pacific (Ore.) (398)
13. Whitman (417)
14. Pacific Lutheran (428)
15. Linfield (428)
16. La Verne (446)
17. Lewis & Clark (462)