Montana State Harriers Open 2008 Season with MSU Invitational
9/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country
The men’s five-mile race is slated for 9 a.m., followed by the women’s three-mile event at 9:45 a.m.
The meet will consist of two divisions. Competing in the NCAA Division I race will be MSU, Montana, Weber State, Utah (women), Utah State, Wyoming and Utah Valley. The small college race will include MSU Billings, Great Falls, Carroll, Rocky Mountain, Westminster, Dickinson State, Flathead Community College and Blackfeet Community College.
“We’re looking forward to our first meet of the season,” said MSU head coach Dale Kennedy. “We’re very young on both the men’s and women’s side. This meet will give us a good opportunity to see how our rosters shake-out.”
The Bobcat men’s team has been hit hard with injury in the preseason. With the redshirting of Nick Atwood and Graydon Curry, along with injuries to Matt Adams and Tyler Noland, the Bobcats will rely heavily on freshman Patrick Casey of Laurel. Kennedy expects Devin McDowell, Carl Nystuen, Kelvin Daratha and Dan Jackson to contribute on Saturday, as well.
“Patrick (Casey) has been running very well in training and is exciting to watch,” Kennedy said. “We’ll see how he makes the adjustment from the high school level to the college ranks.
“The experience returning includes Devin McDowell, who has lettered more than anyone running this Saturday,” Kennedy added. “Nystuen, Daratha and Jackson will also play a major role.”
Junior Matt Beamer, who was a major contributor in 2006, returns to the Bobcat line-up after studying in France last fall. However, Beamer is nursing an injury and is listed as day-to-day.
According to Kennedy, the men’s event looks to be a tight race. “Four teams are all ranked next to each other in the preseason regional poll, and a fifth, Montana should be right there as well,” Kennedy said.
Weber State and Wyoming are the favorites heading into the race, as the Wildcats will ride with its one-two punch of Bryant Jensen and Bob Lambert, while the Cowboys feature last year’s MSU Invitational champion and course record-holder Mark Korir.
The Montana State women’s team will feature Kennedy’s youngest roster since he began coaching at Montana State 27 years ago.
The Bobcats have four sophomores and seven freshmen on its roster. Leading the squad is its lone returning letterwinner, sophomore Kala Jacquet of Butte. Also looking to run in MSU’s top three are freshman Heather Haug of Livingston and Morgan Dunley, a sophomore from Wenatchee, Wash.
“Our top three kids have been training very well,” Kennedy said. “And, it’s been my observation that Lauren Kuennen and Becca Sorenson are closing the gap. We’ll need our Nos. 4-5-6 runners to be within 30-seconds of the top three.”
Utah State and Weber State are the favorites in the women’s race. The Aggies are ranked seventh in the preseason regional poll, while the Wildcats are ninth.
Individually, Utah’s Chelsea DiGrazia, Weber State’s Natalie Haws and Utah State’s Jessie Chugg have posted top three finishes this season.
Former Montana State All-Big Sky Conference performer Elisabeth Driscoll will be competing unattached as she has exhausted her cross country eligibility.
The meet will consist of two divisions. Competing in the NCAA Division I race will be MSU, Montana, Weber State, Utah (women), Utah State, Wyoming and Utah Valley. The small college race will include MSU Billings, Great Falls, Carroll, Rocky Mountain, Westminster, Dickinson State, Flathead Community College and Blackfeet Community College.
“We’re looking forward to our first meet of the season,” said MSU head coach Dale Kennedy. “We’re very young on both the men’s and women’s side. This meet will give us a good opportunity to see how our rosters shake-out.”
The Bobcat men’s team has been hit hard with injury in the preseason. With the redshirting of Nick Atwood and Graydon Curry, along with injuries to Matt Adams and Tyler Noland, the Bobcats will rely heavily on freshman Patrick Casey of Laurel. Kennedy expects Devin McDowell, Carl Nystuen, Kelvin Daratha and Dan Jackson to contribute on Saturday, as well.
“Patrick (Casey) has been running very well in training and is exciting to watch,” Kennedy said. “We’ll see how he makes the adjustment from the high school level to the college ranks.
“The experience returning includes Devin McDowell, who has lettered more than anyone running this Saturday,” Kennedy added. “Nystuen, Daratha and Jackson will also play a major role.”
Junior Matt Beamer, who was a major contributor in 2006, returns to the Bobcat line-up after studying in France last fall. However, Beamer is nursing an injury and is listed as day-to-day.
According to Kennedy, the men’s event looks to be a tight race. “Four teams are all ranked next to each other in the preseason regional poll, and a fifth, Montana should be right there as well,” Kennedy said.
Weber State and Wyoming are the favorites heading into the race, as the Wildcats will ride with its one-two punch of Bryant Jensen and Bob Lambert, while the Cowboys feature last year’s MSU Invitational champion and course record-holder Mark Korir.
The Montana State women’s team will feature Kennedy’s youngest roster since he began coaching at Montana State 27 years ago.
The Bobcats have four sophomores and seven freshmen on its roster. Leading the squad is its lone returning letterwinner, sophomore Kala Jacquet of Butte. Also looking to run in MSU’s top three are freshman Heather Haug of Livingston and Morgan Dunley, a sophomore from Wenatchee, Wash.
“Our top three kids have been training very well,” Kennedy said. “And, it’s been my observation that Lauren Kuennen and Becca Sorenson are closing the gap. We’ll need our Nos. 4-5-6 runners to be within 30-seconds of the top three.”
Utah State and Weber State are the favorites in the women’s race. The Aggies are ranked seventh in the preseason regional poll, while the Wildcats are ninth.
Individually, Utah’s Chelsea DiGrazia, Weber State’s Natalie Haws and Utah State’s Jessie Chugg have posted top three finishes this season.
Former Montana State All-Big Sky Conference performer Elisabeth Driscoll will be competing unattached as she has exhausted her cross country eligibility.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
