BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets track and field team will travel to take part in the Snake River Open hosted by Idaho State University this Friday and Saturday. The meet will mark the second for the team but first of 2020 after returning to completion following the holiday break.
 
With only one meet under their belts, the 'Jackets will look for improvement as the season goes and the Snake river open provides just the chance especially in the track events. Tough competition awaits as most of the Division one Big Sky Conference schools are expected to be in attendance as ISU is hosting the Big Sky Indoor championships.  
 
"I am looking forward to getting back with the team and getting back to competing," said head coach Jonathan Woehl. "It will be a good chance to pick up where they left off in December. Anything in the 200 and up will be a quicker bank track and hopefully we see some faster times then a normal flat track. I hoping for improvement across the board and everyone is ready to go."
 
A full slate of events over two days should provide valuable experience, improved performance and entertainment for all in attendance. MSUB will be competing in 20 different events on the weekend.
 
On the men's side, Lucas Harper, Kyle Patelis, Tyler Rued and Mason Schram will be competeing in the 60 meter dash. Patelis finished tied for seventh at the Bobcat preview in December with a time of 7.10.
 
Patelis is also second on the team in the 200 meter as he ran a 22.64 this season. He will be joined by Everett Evanoff, Rued, Harper and Brock Smith.
 
Rahkei Eyer will be the lone Yellowjacket competing the 400 meter dash looking to improve on his quality time of 49.88. He also leads the team in the 200m dash with a time of 22.96. 
 
Nicholas Redgrave will be running in the 800m and also be looking for improvement on his season best 2:08.33. Redgrave, Evanoff, Smith, Rued and Patelis will all be ready to go as four will run in the 4 x 400m relay.
 
For the distance events, MSUB will be led by Ase Ackerman and Ronald Venema. Ackerman's best time in the 3k is 9:05.61, Venema has ran a 9:14.96 and this meet will be the first ran by either competitor this season. Ackerman will also be participating in the one mile run and carries a personal best of 4:36.07.
 
Isaiah Girard was the top finisher in any event for MSUB at the Bobcat open as he finished tied for second in the high jump with a leap of 1.96m. His personal best is 2.08m at the Montana Sate Open on April 20, 2019. Girard will be competing in the high jump and long jump at the Snake River Open.
 
Seeing his first action of the year, Forrest Cross will return to circle to lead the 'Jacket throws squad. Cross will be participating in the shot put and carries a personal best of 15.78m. He will be joined by Kyle McLaughlin, Connor McNeil and Ely Kraft as the four delegates for the throws team.