MONMOUTH, Ore.- Highlighting the NCAA D2 West Regionals, the Montana State University Billings cross country team competed for a chance to move on to the NCAA D2 National Championships.
 
Andrew Rush capped off his impressive freshman season with a very respectable finish in his first collegiate 10k.
Rush crossed the line at the Ash Creek Preserve course in Monmouth, OR with a 10k time of 33:13.2 and placed 91^st among the 156 competitors. "Andrew has impressed me all season and ran a very good first 10k," said head coach Jon Woehl.
 
Following Rush was Yellowjacket veteran Bryant Edgerton Bryant Edgerton in 127^th place with a time of 34:31.5. Not far behind Edgerton was Will Hyatt who had a collegiate best with a time of 36:03.0 in 146^th place. Also competing was Jackson Bailey who came in 155^th at 39:20.1.
 
The Yellowjacket women placed 22^nd among the 24 teams competing with a team score of 636, just eight points shy of edging out San Francisco State University. "Great day for our ladies, almost all of them had personal bests," said coach Woehl. "Carey ran well, especially on a tough course with muddy conditions."
 
Carey Berendsen led the charge for the Yellowjacket women and had a personal best 6k with a time of 23:46.0 in 106^th place. Following Berendsen was Cecily Eagleton who crossed the line at 24:04.7 and placed 120^th among the 164 women competing. Carey Berendsen was the next finisher in 144^th at 25:08.5 followed by Toree Manning who also had a personal best with a time of 25:17.5 in 146^th. Also competing was Aspen Tollman in 150^th at 25:33.0, Chloe Shennum in 157^th at 26:21.8, and Emma Weaver in 162^nd at 28:09.5.  
 
THE BUZZ:  Andrew Rush and Carey Berendsen were named Intermountain Health Performers of the Day.