MSU-Billings Tyus Mendoza (Omaha Tribe) Finishes 14th overall at 27th Annual Yellowjacket Invitational and NCAA Division II cross country preview meet

BILLINGS, Mont. – Garrett Love and Jorey Egeland paced the MSUB men’s cross country team to a second place team result during the 27^thAnnual Yellowjacket Invitational and NCAA Division II cross country preview meet at Amend Park on Friday.

Love finished fourth overall, covering the 10,0000 meter distance in 32:28.03. Egeland finished sixth in 32:48:37 as MSUB claimed two places in the top-10.

The Yellowjackets scored runners in the 4-6-11-12-14 spots in their top-5 for 47 points.

“For as well as they ran, we weren’t quite at full strength with some sickness, so to have those younger runners move-up was really important today,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “I was really impressed with Ron’s first collegiate 10K and I am very hopeful for the regional in November as we continue to work on the training for longer distances.”

Godfrey Kemboi, a freshman from Northwest Nazarene, won the individual title, clocking in at 32:20.44. He placed ahead of two runners from San Francisco State, Benji Preciado at 32:21.50 and Drew Feldman at 32:21.51.

San Francisco State won the overall team title. The Gators scored runners in the 2-3-9-10-16 spots for 40 points, just pulling ahead of MSUB in the back half of the race.

For the Yellowjackets Mark Hovland was the team’s third place finisher at 11^th crossing the finish line in 33:25.12. Freshman Ron Venema was a step behind in 12^th, completing his first collegiate 10K event in 33:34.10. Sophomore Tyus Mendoza (Omaha Tribe) kept the top-5 pack for MSUB close with a 14^th overall finish in 33:43.92.

“It was great to run-up against a couple of regional schools and one conference school,” Coppock continued. “This really tells us where we are in terms of our competition. They were running so close to San Francisco State which will help their confidence and what they need to do in the next month. I think today’s race bodes well for regionals. If everyone is healthy, I think we can reasonably hope for a top-10 finish.”

Northwest Nazarene finished third in the team competition with 58 points (1-5-7-22-23) and South Dakota Mines was fourth with 80 points (8-13-15-20-24).

Also competing were Montana State Northern and Central Wyoming College. Gillette College sent four individuals to the finish line.

MSUB Results: