MSUB SPORTS – The Yellowjacket women's cross country team was highlighted in the 2010s by strong individual performers, including dedicated four-year athletes who built into steady leaders throughout their careers.
 
"This is an incredible group of ladies," said MSUB head cross country and track and field coach Jon Woehl. "Not only were they highly competitive in college, but a lot have gone on to be even more competitive after graduating. It has been fun to see the progress they have made over the years."

The all-decade team features a lineup of seven runners, and three alternates who are honorable mention selections.
 

Day	Release
Monday, September 21, 2020	No. 6 & No. 7 Runners
Tuesday, September 22, 2020	No. 4 & No. 5 Runners
Wednesday, September 23, 2020	No. 3 Runner
Thursday, September 24, 2020	No. 2 Runner
Friday, September 25, 2020	No. 1 Runner & Full Team

Position	Name	Running Years
Starting Lineup
1	Whitney Mickelsen	2010-2012
2	Nocona Frame	2013-2014
3	Mary Owen	2009-2012
4	Renae Hepfner	2010-2014
5	Nikki Aiken	2015-2019
6	Rio Frame	2013-2016
7	Jinise (Osborne) Trueblood	2012-2015
Honorable Mention
	Brielle Davis	2014-15
	Katie Thiel	2007-2010
	Melanie Bock	2010-2014

 

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No. 1 Runner
Whitney Mickelsen – Team Captain & Runner of the Decade
Hometown: Aurora, Utah
Years at MSUB: 2010-2012 (3 seasons)

CollegeExtra Player Profile: Whitney Mickelsen Always In Motion (Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette - October 15, 2010)
 
Arguably the top runner in program history, Mickelsen led the Yellowjacket women's teams for three seasons during the 2010s decade. She holds three of the top-10 all-time program marks in both the 5k and 6k distances in the MSUB record books.
 
As a senior in 2012, Mickelsen set the school record in the 5k with a time of 18:04 minutes, one second faster than her No. 2 mark of 18:05 minutes set the year before. She also owns the No. 4 mark in school history at 18:15 minutes. In the 6k distance, Mickelsen holds the No. 3 mark at 21:31 minutes, and the No. 7 and No. 8 marks as well.
 
Mickelsen was a three-time participant in both the NCAA regional meet and the GNAC Championships, and was an all-conference performer. In her first year with the program in 2010, Mickelsen took 16th place at the conference meet in a time of 23:13.16 minutes, and earned the GNAC Newcomer of the Year honors. Mickelsen was also an all-region selection in her career.
 
Dave Coppock (Mickelsen's Head Coach 2010-2012): "Whitney started out as a volleyball player who had run cross country. She loved to run, and was really enthusiastic and driven. That influenced the team, and got the other girls to run up to her level. She was very dedicated to running, and left volleyball to pursue running which was her passion. She worked really hard, and really helped pull the team together. She provided a lot of leadership to the younger girls coming in, and that was a big key for us."


 

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No. 2 Runner
Nocona Frame
Hometown: Glendive, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2013-2014 (2 seasons)

Feature Story: Back on Track, Frame Takes To The Course As MSUB's Top Runner
 
After a successful career at fellow NCAA D2 school University of Mary, Frame elected to complete her collegiate eligibility with the Yellowjackets and run alongside her younger sister Rio. An injury caused her to redshirt during the 2013 cross country season, and when she emerged onto the course as a senior in 2014 Frame took the team by storm.
 
On Nov. 1, 2014, Frame broke the school record for the 6k distance, running a time of 20:57.4 minutes at the GNAC Championships in Monmouth, Oregon. The record-breaking time, which still holds as the top mark in program history, was good enough to lead Frame to an eighth-place finish and all-conference accolades.
 
She followed her conference meet performance with a 34th-place finish among a field of 167 runners at the NCAA regional meet, narrowly missing out on a trip to the national championships.
 
Evidence of Frame's landmark season began early in the year, when she won the MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational on Oct. 3 with a time of 22:25.7 minutes. She followed that by winning the Yellowjacket Open two weeks later, with a 5k time of 20:01.6 minutes.
 
Frame was named the MSUB Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2014, and was also a GNAC FAR Scholar Athlete Award recipient.


 
Frame on what stood out about her MSUB career: "What comes to mind the most about the girls I ran with – Rio, Taylor, Renae, Jinise, Melanie, Bailey, Jordan, Mary, Theresa, and Brielle – is the competitiveness and determination that our team had. We weren't always winning meets or placing high as a team at conference, but each and every day we showed up and we competed to the best of our abilities. We had a respect for how hard each person on the team worked, and we drove each other to be better runners. I think that is why we were the highest placing women's cross country team MSUB had. We worked hard for it."
 
Dave Coppock (Frame's Head Coach 2013-2014): "Nocona was a transfer we were lucky to get. She could have been a D1 runner, but decided to go to one of the top D2 programs in Mary who has made it to nationals perennially. She brought experience and maturity to the team, plus she was very talented. After redshirting her first fall and dealing with some injuries, she came out really strong and was one of the top runners in the conference her senior year."
 
Where is she now? Now Nocona Robinson after marrying teammate and men's cross country all-decade selection Chase Robinson, she is a 6th and 7th grade social studies teacher at Elder Grove School and resides in Laurel.

"Well first and foremost, I married one of my teammates! I met Chase, my best friend and the most special person in my life, while I was running at MSUB. We ran cross country and track together and over the last six and a half years, we have built a wonderful life. He has shaped my life into what it is today and I am incredibly grateful for how he has made me grow as a person. Other than his effect on my life, I have taken my love of running and knowledge that I gained from it in college and translated it into coaching. I am currently coaching high school cross country and middle school track in Laurel. I love getting to be a part of the team and share what I know about running with them. It is my hope that they continue to love running even when they are no longer competing." – Nocona Robinson on how the MSUB experience has shaped her life.
 

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No. 3 Runner
Mary Owen
Hometown: Hammond, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2009-2012

Feature Story: 8 Billings-Area Women Cross Finish Line At Boston Marthon (Samantha Sullivan/KTVQ - April 15, 2019)
 
Owen was a four-year star for the Yellowjackets, racing in four NCAA regionals and four GNAC Championships throughout her career from 2009-2012. Overall Owen competed in 32 races and was a three-time academic all-GNAC selection in the classroom.
 
Owen peaked during her senior season, where she established personal bests in three of her final four races. The first came in the 5.8k distance at the Rocky Mountain Shootout, where she finished with a time of 23:38.0 minutes on Sept. 29, 2012. In her next race at the Yellowjacket Invitational, Owen took 10th place on Oct. 13. Her 5k time of 18:36.0 minutes was a personal best and it stands as the seventh-best 5k mark in school history.
 
Keeping the momentum going at the 2012 GNAC Championships, Owen finished in 37th place with a personal-best 6k time of 22:35.5 minutes on Oct. 20. Owen has remained involved with the Yellowjacket programs since her graduation, continuing to run competitively local as well as serving as an assistant coach on the cross country and track and field teams.
 
Owen has remained competitive with her running well after her collegiate career, and led a group of eight women from Montana who competed in the 2019 Boston Marathon. Owen had the fastest time among the group at 3 hours 1 minute over the 26.2-mile marathon course which featured more than 30,000 competitors.


 
Owen on what she's most proud of in her MSUB career: "I am mostly proud of just being able to persevere through some really tough times as an athlete, and never settle in the process. I had a couple of rough seasons as a sophomore and junior: Running through some nagging pains, redshirting to stave off further injury, and then struggling to get back to my previous level of fitness thereafter. It got pretty discouraging at times, but I was really lucky to have supportive coaches and teammates who never gave up on me. I ended up following up my worst year of running with my fastest."
 
Dave Coppock (Owen's Head Coach 2009-2012): "Mary steadily improved over her four years. She was a multi-sport athlete but didn't run cross country in high school. She was very intelligent, and realized what she had to do to excel in cross country. She was always able to get out and get the training in, because she was self-motivated and focused. Her intelligence plays a lot in that role. She realized what she had to do and became a really solid performer for us."
 
Jon Woehl (Owen's Co-Coach): "I have gotten to coach a few years with Mary and run with her, and she has been great as a role model and coach for our women on the team now. She is someone they definitely look up to, and they want to emulate not only how well she runs but also the type of person she is."
 
Where is she now? Owen is currently a math and physics teacher at Skyview High School in Billings, and also serves as an assistant coach for the MSUB cross country and track and field programs.

"In the most literal sense, my experience at MSUB has kept me running and competing well after my college career ended. One of the first things Dave Coppock said to me when he was recruiting me was that he wanted his athletes to still love to run after they were done with his program, and he succeeded in meeting that goal. Today, I run more marathons than anything, but I still like to drop down and have some fun with anything from the mile to the 10k." – Mary Owen.
 

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No. 4 Runner
Renae Hepfner
Hometown: Belt, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2010-2014 (5 seasons)

Feature Story: Hepfner Races Into Med School With NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
 
One of the pillars over the first five years of the decade, Hepfner contributed to the program over five seasons from 2010-14. She participated in three NCAA regional meets and four GNAC Championships, among her 23 total career races.
 
Hepfner's name appears frequently in the MSUB record books, most notably holding the No. 2 time in school history in the 6k distance. The mark of 21:26.7 minutes came on Nov. 1, 2014 during her senior season at the GNAC Championships, where she finished in 15th place. Hepfner also holds the No. 5 mark in the 6k at 22:11 minutes, and the No. 6 mark in the 5k distance at 18:33 minutes.
 
Academically, Hepfner was one of the university's top students of the decade. She was a three-time GNAC FAR Scholar Athlete winner, a three-time academic all-GNAC selection, and earned the MSUB Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year honor as well.


 
Hepfner on her fondest MSUB memories: "I loved running and spending time with my teammates. I enjoyed my classes in the science department. I loved all of the clubs and extracurricular activities that were offered."
 
Dave Coppock (Hepfner's Head Coach 2010-2014): "Renae had to redshirt as a freshman due to an injury from basketball in high school, but she steadily improved over her career. She brought a lot of focus and motivation to the team. She was very consistent, and that was a key factor in our team success."
 
Where is she now? Hepfner resides in Casper, Wyoming, where she is a resident physician in the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program.
 

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No. 5 Runner
Nikki Aiken
Hometown: Belgrade, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2015-2019 (5 seasons)
 
The most recent runner on the all-decade team, Aiken put together a solid career for the 'Jackets over the course of five seasons on the cross country and track teams. Aiken's top performances came during her senior fall, where she finished 33rd at the GNAC Championships with a career-best time of 23:37.6 minutes.
 
She followed that with a personal-best time of 22:39.7 minutes for the 6k distance at the 2019 NCAA regional meet. Overall Aiken competed in 26 races throughout her cross country career. She was a four-time regional and four-time GNAC Championships participant.
 
Aiken was named the MSUB Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year three times, earned a pair of GNAC Runner of the Week honors, and was a two-time academic all-conference selection as well.


 
Aiken on what stood out during her career: "The coaching staff was always there to support the team no matter what. All of the coaches that I had during my time at MSUB pushed me beyond my limits and helped me become a better athlete, student, and person."
 
Dave Coppock (Aiken's Head Coach 2015-2016): "Nikki redshirted her freshman year, and by the time she came back out she was part of a young team. She brought a lot of leadership, and was one of our top performers over the next four years. She did move up in the conference from her freshman to senior year, to where she was competitive and a real team leader."
 
Jon Woehl (Aiken's Assistant Coach 2015-2016, Head Coach 2017-2019): "Getting to watch Nikki from her freshman year to her fifth year, she is somebody who made huge strides. She became a better runner and a better student. It was fun to see her improve, mature, and grow as a runner and an adult over the last five years. I definitely have a lot of good memories watching her compete."
 
Where is she now? Aiken currently resides in Billings, where she works in the sports department and afterschool care department for the YMCA. She is also completing her degree in health and human performance with the K-12 teaching option, and will student-teach at Lockwood Middle School.
 

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No. 6 Runner
Rio Frame
Hometown: Glendive, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2013-2016
 
Frame was a key contributor for four seasons in the middle of the decade, participating in the NCAA regional and GNAC Championships in each of her collegiate campaigns. She emerged onto the scene as a sophomore in 2014, finishing in 22nd place at the GNAC Championships with her time of 21:48.0 minutes being the best 6k mark of her career. That result remains as the No. 6 mark in MSUB history in the 6k distance.
 
Frame followed the conference meet success with a career-best time of 23:04.7 minutes at the regional championship meet three weeks later, where she took 59th place among a field of 167 runners.
 
By her senior year, Frame was MSUB's top runner, but hints of her success came much earlier in her career. Frame earned the Buzzie award for MSUB Freshman of the Year in 2013, before twice being named the MSUB Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year. She enjoyed tremendous success in the classroom, where she was a three-time academic all-GNAC pick and was an academic all-district selection as well.


 
Frame on her favorite MSUB cross country moment: "I think one of my greatest moments of being an athlete was when Nocona and I went one two in a cross country race in Spearfish, South Dakota. One of my goals was to be able to have that moment with her. She was my main inspiration while I was running, so to be able to accomplish that was such a good moment."
 
Dave Coppock (Frame's Head Coach 2013-2016): "Rio came in with her sister as a freshman, and was on a path of building up over her four years. She emerged as a team leader later on in her career. She was able to motivate the girls, and she went a long way in helping the team."
 
Jon Woehl (Frame's Assistant Coach 2015-2016): "Early on when I got here, she was definitely a team leader and was incredibly hard working. She was highly motivated, and she has gone on to do really good things. It has been fun to see her mature over the last few years."
 
Where is she now? Frame recently graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law, and passed the bar exam to practice as an attorney in Montana.

"I am proud of many individual moments like breaking records and winning races, but I am most proud that my athletic career helped discipline me so that I could be where I am today. I learned how to be competitive, driven, how to manage my time, etc. I really do think my athletic career and the benefits it provided me with is what set me apart from other applicants when applying for law schools." – Rio Frame.
 

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No. 7 Runner
Jinise (Osborne) Trueblood
Hometown: Columbia Falls, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2012-2015 (4 seasons)
 
Trueblood was a four-year runner for the Yellowjackets, who steadily progressed into a team leader by her senior season. She was a four-time NCAA regional meet participant and raced in three GNAC Championships, with her best championship mark coming as a junior in 2014 with a time of 23:27.8 minutes at the regionals in Billings.
 
Trueblood's best 6k time was at the 2013 GNAC Championships, where she finished in 36th place with a mark of 22:11.4 minutes. She competed in 24 races total over her four years with the 'Jackets, and recorded five top-10 finishes among her results.
 
In addition to her running success, Trueblood was one of the top academic performers at MSUB. She earned academic all-district honors as a junior, and was a three-time academic all-conference selection.
 
Dave Coppock (Trueblood's Head Coach 2012-2015): "Jinise was very smart and driven, and she has her doctorate in physical therapy now. She brought a lot of maturity to the team even as a freshman. She was really able to focus and train hard."
 
Jon Woehl (Trueblood's Assistant Coach 2015): "Jinise was a senior leader my first year. She was good at organizing the pack and was a solid contributor."


 

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Honorable Mention
Brielle Davis
Hometown: Billings, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2014-2015 (2 seasons)

Feature Story: Back To Billings: Brielle Davis Blossoms Into Star As Senior For 'Jackets
 
After competing for two seasons at Gillette College, Davis elected to return to her hometown university and complete her collegiate eligibility with the Yellowjackets. Her senior season was the best of all, as she competed as the team's No. 1 and No. 2 runner the majority of the year. She had a pair of top-20 finishes, and was an academic all-conference selection as well.
 
Dave Coppock (Davis's Head Coach 2014-2015): "We got Brielle after a couple of years at Gillette College. She brought us a lot of experience, and she was focused and dedicated."
 
Jon Woehl (Davis's Assistant Coach 2015): "Brielle was a really hard worker. She was a strong competitor at her first college, and when she transferred here she was one of our top runners each season. She pushed her teammates to be better."


 

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Katie Thiel
Hometown: Powell, Wyoming
Years at MSUB: 2007-2010 (4 seasons)
 
The majority of Thiel's standout MSUB career came during the previous decade, but she peaked as a senior during the 2010 season. Thiel had a pair of top-5 finishes in her final year, while competing in the NCAA regional meet for the fourth time in her career. She was a three-time academic all-conference selection and earned academic all-district honors from the USTFCCCA as a senior. Thiel holds the fifth-best 5k time in school history, with a mark of 18:24 minutes set during her senior year.
 
Dave Coppock (Thiel's Head Coach 2007-2010): "Katie was one of the first track runners we recruited in 2007. She was consistent all the way through her college career, and you could always count on her to place well in meets. She was really good at bringing the team together, and was a really positive influence on everyone."
 

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Melanie Bock
Hometown: Helena, Montana
Years at MSUB: 2010-2014 (5 seasons)
 
Bock was a steady presence in the MSUB lineup for four seasons on the course, competing in the conference and regional meets in each of her years. Bock ran in more than 25 races during her career, with her personal best in the 5k of 19:33.0 minutes coming during her junior year. Bock was also a three-time academic all-conference honoree.
 
Dave Coppock (Bock's Head Coach 2010-2014): "Melanie was a good high-school runner coming out of Helena. She was a steady performer for us and moved up throughout the years. She progressed well up to her senior year, and added a lot of depth to the team."
 

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Top Seasons & Races
The decade started off on a positive note, with the Yellowjackets taking fifth place at the GNAC Championships as a team in 2010. The team also notched a victory that fall, taking first place at the Dickinson State Invitational.
 
"Early in the decade is when we really started to move up in the conference as a team. Our conference women are really tough nationally, and we were able to work our way up into the middle or upper-middle part of the GNAC pack. There were some years we had really deep teams, and that was key." – Dave Coppock.
 
The 2012 season was highlighted by a team victory at the Rocky Mountain Shootout on Sept. 29. Running against a competitive field that included Division I competition, the Yellowjackets were the top-finishing Division II team among 11 that competed in the meet. Among the Yellowjackets' lineup that day were five all-decade runners: Mickelsen, Owen, Hepfner, Osborne, and Bock. FULL MEET RECAP
 
In 2014 the 'Jackets cruised into the conference meet with momentum, coming off back-to-back team victories. MSUB won their home meet on Oct. 3, before taking the crown at the Black Hills State Meet two weeks later in Spearfish, South Dakota.
 
"My sophomore year everyone was so competitive on the woman's team that everyone was pushed to do better. We never wanted our other teammates to beat us in workouts, runs, or meets. This kind of atmosphere is what helps a cross country team thrive as long as it is healthy. We would be happy for our teammates when they beat us, but that would make us work that much harder to beat them next time." – Rio Frame on the 2014 Yellowjackets.
 

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Competing Near and Far
The Yellowjackets frequently traveled throughout the decade to compete in meets all across the western United States. While many meets have been firmly rooted in specific locations throughout the years, the rotation of

major meets like the conference and regional championships has provided the opportunity for runners to see a wide array of the country.
 
"For context, I had never even been in an airplane when I started my freshman year. With MSUB, I was able to run places like Hawaii, Alaska, Las Vegas, on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and so much more. It was a great environment for me competitively, but it also just opened up a whole new world of opportunities that I never would have had otherwise." – Mary Owen.
 

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Close Knit Group
A common theme among the all-decade athletes on what stood out regarding their MSUB careers was the tight group of runners and teammates throughout the years. In the case of the Frame sisters, the opportunity to compete with a sibling was one they treasured the most.
 
"Most of my fondest memories include my sister, Rio Frame. Running with her is something that I didn't get to do until we got to college, so it was so fun running with her and so incredible to have someone who you have the fiercest rivalry with, but then know that they will always support and cheer you on. One year at Pocatello, she and I were both listening to music to get pumped for a race. We started skipping around to different songs on our playlists and were "talking" to each other through song titles. It sounds mad, but we were having so much fun and were laughing so hard we were crying. Everyone around us thought we were nuts. Later, when I ran my PR in the indoor mile, I can clearly remember looking up after the race and seeing her and Taylor, my other teammate and best friend, crying. They knew what that endeavor meant to me and we were both so happy and emotional about it. However, the memories I am the most fond of are of our dad coming to our meets. After every race, I would go talk to him and regardless of how good or bad I did, he would give me the biggest hug and tell me good job. Just thinking about it now, brings tears to my eyes. He was the best supporter a girl could ask for." – Nocona Frame.
 
"My experiences at MSUB have really helped me out as a teacher and coach. It is really nice to have been able to go through a really diverse athletic experience in college, because it helps me to empathize with a diverse group of athletes. When an athlete is struggling through injury, mentality, training, or what have you, I can say, 'hey I've been there, and there's a way to get through it.'" – Mary Owen.
 

"We worked well together as a team, but we were also friends outside of the school. Our group cared for each other and were very supportive. My team was my MSUB family." – Renae Hepfner.
 
"The MSUB athletic department specifically shaped my life to this point by always being willing to help me even when I was not still attending MSUB. I was able to work under Rebekah Gasner in the compliance department for a summer during law school. My time with Rebekah reminded me how much of a family the MSUB athletic staff and athletes are. I loved the environment and being a compliance director is one of my top choices for a career path. I also highly appreciate that the department is run by a woman. Seeing Krista as the athletic director and Rebekah as the senior woman in the department motivates me to work hard in a field that can be dominated by men. I know that with women like that in my corner I can do almost anything." – Rio Frame.
 

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On A Regional Stage
An opportunity to host some of the biggest Division II meets of the decade put MSUB and the city of Billings on the map among the world of runners throughout the 2010 decade. The Yellowjackets hosted the NCAA regional meet in 2014, 2016, and 2018, and hosted the GNAC Championships during the 2019 season.
 
The regional championship meets brought more than 400 men's and women's runners from more than 30 teams across the western U.S. to Amend Park in Billings, where Coppock designed and laid out the men's 10k distance.
 
MSUB was scheduled to host the regional meet in the fall of 2020, but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic pushed the NCAA to cancel all of its championship events for the fall. The Yellowjackets are on schedule to host the GNAC Championship meet once again in the fall of 2021.
 

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On To The 2020s
As the page turns to the 2020 decade, it does so with uncertainty as the fall season has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
 
MSUB's 2020 roster features a solid balance of upperclassmen as well as newcomers. Juniors Sierra Durbin and Kailee Stoppel are each beginning their third season on the trail, while newcomer Ally Whitmer brings her collegiate experience from Treasure Valley Community College to the program. MSUB will also feature the freshman trio of Aspen Tolman, Ambrie Tahbo, and Lizzie Wisecup when the season eventually unfolds.
 
"Running at MSUB made me a stronger person. I developed some teamwork and leadership skills that I wouldn't have been able to do without my team or my coach." – Renae Hepfner.
 
"My MSUB experience has helped shape my life by teaching me to work hard no matter what the circumstances are. MSUB has given me many opportunities in the MSUB community and in the Billings community as well. I am so grateful for my time at MSUB, and I'm glad that I chose this school five years ago." – Nikki Aiken.
 
"I played a lot of different team sports growing up, but when I got to college my team really became my family. I think it's a wonderful part of that time in your life: You're on your own for the first time, but you're never alone because you're surrounded by all these people who are going through the same experiences and have the same goals. We had family dinners together, spent holidays at each other's homes, we cried through the heartaches and breakups, and celebrated through the big successes. Even as we've all graduated and moved on, my teammates will always be some of my best friends." – Mary Owen.
 

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About the MSUB All-Decade Team Project
The top student-athletes from each of Montana State University Billings' current varsity athletic teams from 2010-2019 have been selected, and 14 all-decade teams will be revealed throughout the course of the fall of 2020. Each sport's all-decade team is comprised of the top-performing student-athletes, with weight given to individual athletic achievement and accolades, team achievement, academic achievement, as well as community service. For more information on MSUB's all-decade project, and to view each sport's all-decade teams, view the all-decade project webpage online here.