BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings cross country teams each put up strong performances at home Friday morning, playing host at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open.
 
Both squads would take fourth place overall at the meet, with the MSUB men finishing fourth of nine teams with a team score of 106, while the Yellowjacket women placed fourth out of seven teams, finishing with 121 points. The teams would see a number of athletes find PR marks as they continued to round into form, competing in front of a home crowd.
 
In the men's race, freshman Logan Milek would continue his strong freshman campaign with another quality finish, taking fifth place overall with a time of 25:19.0. Milek would improve his 8K PR by more than 28 seconds. The Lander, WY native has placed as the Yellowjackets top finisher in each meet this season.
 
Behind Milek, Jimmy Reed would come in 23^rd with a PR time of 26:44.3, improving on his career best by 11 seconds. Meanwhile, a season best 8K performance for Will Hyatt would see the fifth-year senior place 33^rd with a time of 27:35.0. Hyatt would lead a pack of three Yellowjackets across the finish line, finishing just ahead of freshman Mason Gregorie, whose time of 27:36.3 would improve upon his PR mark by over 40 second, and place 35^th, while John Achter would cross the line in 36^th place with a mark of 27:37.4, also setting a big PR.
 
Also setting PR's at the meet would be Donald Voetberg, who would run a time of 28:13.9, and Ben Carleski, who finished with a time of 29:46.2.
 
For the Yellowjacket women, Micah Strong would lead the way, placing eighth overall with a time of 23:37.9. Ally Coey would be the next fastest 'Jacket on the course, placing 24^th with a time of 24:40.1. The next three placers for the 'Jackets would all cross the finish line in consecutive order, with Gracyn Rock placing 37^th with a time of 25:46.8, Sara McCabe placing 38^th with a time of 25:49.6, and Kinley Bruno placing 39^th with a PR finish, crossing the finish line with a time of 25:51.3.
 
Also earning PR's on the day would be Claire Dayton with a time of 28:34.1.
 
THE BUZZ: Milek and Strong were selected as the Athletes of the Meet.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets will take part in the Rocky/MSUB/Dawson CC Invite on Wednesday, October 14 at Riverfront Park. Both teams will run a 5K, with the men beginning at 4:15 PM and the women's race starting at 4:45 PM.