BOZEMAN, Mont.- The Montana State Billings Cross Country teams started off their preseason at the Montana State Bobcat Twilight 5K Friday night in Bozeman. The 'Jackets had a mix of returners and new faces on the course, setting the scene for the season to come. The 'Jackets competed against a mix of Division 1 and NAIA programs in the Northwest on Montana State's Dyche Field.
 
The men's race kicked off first at 7:20pm. Wyatt May and Lennon Davis were the only male competitors for the 'Jackets, both finishing the race in under 18 minutes. May, a returning junior competing in his hometown of Bozeman, finished just one spot outside the top 50 with a time of 16:51.1. Lennon Davis made his Yellowjacket debut as a freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio, clocking in at 17:48.4.
 
The women's team had nine runners competing in Bozeman who were also a mix of returning and new faces. Carey Berendsen crossed the finish line first for the 'Jackets with a time of 20:20.6, just under a minute faster than her best recorded 5K time of the 2023 season. Senior Madeline Severson finished four spots behind Berendsen with a time of 20:47.9, followed closely by junior Cecily Eagleton who finished at 20:52.3. Sarah McCabe, a freshman from Flagstaff, AZ, made her 'Jackets debut in Bozeman and finished fourth on the team with a time of 21:16.4. Alahna Lien, Toree Manning, and Gabi Becker all finished close together with times of 21:19.8, 21:28.4, and 21:29.7, placing just outside the top 50. Rounding out the Yellowjacket finishers was Chloe Shennum with a time of 22:39.1, and Emma Weaver at 23:42.6. The women finished in sixth in the team scoring out of the eight competing.

THE BUZZ: Wyatt May and Carey Berendsen were named Intermountain Health Performers of the Day.
 
UP NEXT: On September 9^th Montana State University Billings Cross Country starts regular season action at the Tony Banovich Invitational 8K in Butte, Montana.