Griz men finish second, freshman Conway leads the way for the women

Friday, September 18

Missoula, Mont.

6:00 PM

Montana

Montana Invite

Photo by: Marley Barboeisel/University of Montana

Griz men finish second, freshman Conway leads the way for the women

9/18/2026 9:43:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana men's cross country team continued its great start to the 2026 season with a big performance at home in the Montana Invite, finishing second in a field of 11 teams that included five Big Sky Conference programs.

The Griz, with 69 points, finished ahead of Idaho, Idaho State, and Eastern Washington in an early test against some of the teams that Montana was predicted to finish neck-and-neck with at the Big Sky Conference Championship in late October. Montana State won the meet with a score of 21.

"That is a huge step forward for our men's program in beating the Big Sky teams that we did," head coach Doug Fraley said. "A really great job by those guys competing today and a great job defending their home course."

For the third straight race this season, Luke Mest led Montana cross the finish line. This week, Mest ran a time of 24:22.9 to finish third overall in the meet. The lead group jumped out fast and Mest ran his race, keeping a good pace until late and making his move.

On a course that features a difficult hill that runners must summit twice, Mest proved his experience with a smart run. He pulled in several runners and ultimately finished just six seconds behind the winner Sam Ells of Montana State.

"That's an awesome finish for Luke," Fraley said. "He's just continuing to build on the way he started the season in the first two meets and today was no different. That is an outstanding effort from him."

He's led Montana in all three races and put together another terrific performance on Friday evening, but Mest knows that there is more in store for both himself and his Grizzly teammates.

"At the end of the day, this sport is all about how hard you work and I know I've worked to the point where I'm not going to be satisfied with anything less than winning," Mest said. "I'm not going to be content with anything less than being the best, but it's a huge step in the right direction for me and also for the team."

Lane Kratuschun finished 7^th overall with a time of 24:52.4 and Carson Steckelberg came in at 15^th in 25:36.5. The final two Grizzlies to score were Albert Turner in 20^th place and Truman Thompson in 32^nd.

The Grizzlies were running without Zachary Giesch and Henry Sund, who both missed the home meet with illness but have been inside the top five of a very deep Grizzly squad this year. They defeated Idaho by 17 points and Eastern Washington by nearly 50.

"That is something we've been hitting our head against the wall with a little trying to make a jump up in the league," Mest said. "That's happening for sure, which is something to be satisfied with but not by a long shot are we content with that. It was a great day for the team, a solid day for me, and a huge step in the right direction."

The women were also running with a smaller squad than hoped for with some injuries sideling several runners, but made the most with what they had and finished fifth with a team score of 149.

Freshman Rosie Conway, running her second race as a Grizzly, led Montana across the finish line with a time of 19:08.7. She was the second-best Grizzly in her first collegiate race and made the jump on Friday evening in her first-ever race on the home course at the University of Montana Golf Course to finish 19^th overall.

"I'm feeling good, there were lots of fans, it was really crowded, and it was super nerve-wracking to come into with knowing how many people would be spectating and racing," Conway said. "All that energy was really good and it was so fun."

Heidi Olson finished second on Montana's roster and 26^th overall with a time of 19:38.9. Missoula native Malia Bradford was third on Montana and 30^th overall and Libby Hartz and Abigail Kotran rounded out the scoring places for Montana by finishing 55^th and 59^th overall.

The Grizzlies were short three runners, including Olivia Coll, who had led them in the first two races of the season.

"I'm hoping the rest of the team is going to get healthy again and I know that when they do we will have a bigger pack up front, which I know we're all capable of," Conway said. "I know all the other girls are capable of being at that level and I can't wait until we hit our full potential which I know will be soon."

The freshman has impressed since arriving on campus with Friday the result of the countless hours that she and her teammates have put in during the summer and fall.

"That's great for Rosie," Fraley said. "Coach (AJ) Eckmann has been telling me what kind of shape she came into the fall semester in and for her to go out like that as a freshman is really a testament to the work she's put in during the offseason. I'm really proud of that effort from Rosie."

Montana will have a week off before returning to racing at the Frank Knott Classic hosted by Whitworth in Spokane on Oct. 3.

MONTANA MEN'S RESULTS
1. Luke Mest (24:22.9, 3^rd)
2. Lane Krautschun (24:52.4, 7^th)
3. Carson Steckelberg (25:36.5, 15^th)
4. Albert Turner (25:42.7, 20^th)
5. Truman Thompson (26:05.7, 32^nd)
6. Henry Ballinger (26:08.8, 34^th)
7. Keagen Crosby (27:17.9, 55^th)
8. Lane Cole (29:03.3, 76^th)

MONTANA WOMEN'S RESULTS
1. Rosie Conway (19:08.7, 19^th)
2. Heidi Olson (19:38.9, 26^th)
3. Malia Bradford (19:49.0, 30^th)
4. Libby Hartz (20:52.4, 55^th)
5. Abigail Kotran (21:03.8, 59^th)
6. Lucy Thompson (21:08.2, 61^st)

MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana State (21)
2. Montana (69)
3. Idaho (86)
4. Eastern Washington (117)
5. Idaho State (137)
6. Rocky Mountain (166)
7. Carroll College (195)
8. Montana Tech (225)
9. Montana Western (300)
10. Montana State-Northern (352)
11. Dawson CC (381)

WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1. Montana State (24)
2. Idaho (53)
3. Eastern Washington (88)
4. Idaho State (94)
5. Montana (149)
6. Carroll College (165)
7. Montana Tech (211)
8. Montana Western (228)
9. Montana State-Northern (265)