BILLINGS, Mont. – In a battle against snowy conditions, the Montana State University Billings men's and women's cross country teams plowed through to finish 10^th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships hosted by MSUB at Amend Park in Billings.
 
Western Washington took the top spot in both men's 8,000 meter and women's 6,000 meter events. The Vikings placed four players in the top-10 in the men's race while balancing out their results in the women's race. Emmanuelah Chelimo (Alaska Anchorage) took first place in the women's race with a time of 21:31.90 (5:46/mile). Felix Kemboi (Alaska Anchorage) won the men's race with a time of 24:44.00 (5:00/mile).
 
Nikki Aiken led the 'Jacket runners after turning in a 33^rd place finish with a time of 23:37.60 (6:20/mile). Kailee Stoppel took 57^th position in 25:20.50 (6:48/mile), followed by Madisan Chavez (63^rd, 25:43.00), Sierra Durbin (64^th, 25:44.70), and Miranda Livingston (75^th, 27:09.20)
 
For the men, Ronald Venema placed 56^th with an 8K time equaling 27:06.60 (5:29/mile). Ase Ackerman was close behind and took 64^th in 27:22.90 (5:33/mile). Other finishers for the 'Jacket men include Bryant Edgerton (66^th, 27:35.10), Logan Straus (71^st, 27:55.30), Carson Jessop (75^th, 28:20.50), and Will Steinfeldt (82^nd, 29:36.70).

"I felt we ran our best race of the season so far for both the men and the women," commented MSUB head coach Jon Woehl. "We competed well, especially given the conditions. I'm looking forward to seeing our improvements at regionals."
 
The men's field consisted of 88 runners with 77 participants in the women's GNAC Championships. Light to moderate snowfall persisted through both races, proving challenging course conditions for runners at Amend Park. The 'Jacket men fell two positions from their GNAC eighth place team mark in 2018. Women's cross country was also off two spots from last fall.
 
Western Washington men's cross country won their first championship since 2009. Senior James Jasperson placed highest in fourth with a time of 25:24.5. The Viking women had used a team effort to narrowly take first place with 53 points.
 
 
2019 GNAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Amend Park, Billings, Mont. (Montana State Billings, Host)
Team Results: Western Washington 53, Alaska Anchorage 60, Seattle Pacific 64, Simon Fraser 101, Northwest Nazarene 120, Western Oregon 153, Central Washington 168, Alaska 244, Concordia 255. Montana State Billings 272, Saint Martin's 307.
 
Top 10 Finishers (All-GNAC): 1, Emmah Chelimo, UAA, 21:31.9. 3, Kate Lilly, SPU, 21:39.3. 3, Nancy Jeptoo, UAA, 21:55.5. 4, Dania Holmberg, SPU, 22:02.5. 5, Grace Knapp, WOU, 22:04.3. 6, Joan Kipsanai, UAA, 22:20.6. 7, Olivia Willett, SFU, 22:22.2. 8, Jane Barr, WWU, 22:26.1. 9, Rebecca Lehman, WWU, 22:29.6. 10, Tracy Melville, WWU, 22:40.0.
 
Athlete of the Year: Emmah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage
Freshman of the Year: Joan Kipsanai, Alaska Anchorage
Newcomer of the Year: Olivia Jimenez, Western Oregon