Bobcat Harriers Solid in Season-Opener at Montana State Invitational

Saturday, September 20

Bozeman, MT

9 a.m. (M)/9:45 a.m. (W)

Montana State University

MSU INVITATIONAL

Mike Asay led MSU and finished second at the Montana State Invitational on Saturday morning at Bridger Creek.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Bobcat Harriers Solid in Season-Opener at Montana State Invitational

9/20/2014 8:39:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country

MSU was led by Mike Asay, who returned from a redshirt season, to place second overall, covering the five-mile course in 25:06. Also finishing in the Bobcats’ top three were Jake Turner, seventh, 25:15, and Zach Kughn, tenth, 25:40.

By: Tom Schulz

Men's Double Dual Scores (pdf)
Men's Overall Finishers (pdf)
Women's Double Dual Scores (pdf)
Women's Overall Finishers (pdf)

Both the Montana State men's and women's cross country teams had solid performances in its first meet of the season. The MSU men knocked off Utah State 26-31 and Montana 19-36, while dropping a 25-32 decision to Wyoming, a strong squad from the Mountain West Conference.

MSU was led by Mike Asay, who returned from a redshirt season, to place second overall, covering the five-mile course in 25:06. Also finishing in the Bobcats' top three were Jake Turner, seventh, 25:15, and Zach Kughn, tenth, 25:40.

Freshman Matt Gotta placed 14^th in his first collegiate race in 26:00, while Ethan Wilhelm was 35^th overall and Matthew Tex, 57^th.

"I thought the majority of our guys ran well, especially the top three guys," MSU Assistant Track and Field/Distance Coach Lyle Weese said. "Asay, Turner and Kughn were solid and Matt Gotta, as a freshman in his first race, really had a great performance."

Wyoming's Amos Bowen captured the individual crown in 25:01.

"(The men's race) was kind of what I expected," Weese said. "We had a couple of people struggle a little bit, but you're almost going to have it in the first race of the season. We'll keep doing what we're doing along the right path. We'll keep training hard, even as we enter a phase where you'll have to grind it out a little. Our top three will be very competitive in the Big Sky and Mountain Region."

The Bobcat women's contingent defeated Utah State 24-32 and Montana 25-32, while dropping a pair of double-duals to Wyoming 17-41 and Utah 16-42.

Freshman and Bozeman product Caroline Hardin guided the Bobcats finishing ninth overall, covering the three-mile race in 17:35. She was followed in MSU's top five by Jenette Northey, 14^th, 17:40, Rachel Sullivan, 17^th, 17:48, Keely West, 21^st, 17:54, and Andrea Creel, 36^th, 18:23.

Other contributors for Montana State included Christie Schiel, 38^th, Louisa Serpe, 39^th, and Michelle Cline, 51^st.

"Overall, the women really had a solid performance," Weese said. "Caroline Hardin, for her first collegiate race, was spectacular. Jenette Northey had a solid race and Keely West, who is coming back from numerous injuries, struggled in the middle, but held on. Rachel Sullivan also had an outstanding race, finishing under 18-minutes.

"It's good to get that first race under our belts," Weese added. "Now we have something to build on. We'll make some adjustments and keep doing what we're doing."

Utah's Sarah Feeny captured the women's title in 16:56 – the 8^th fastest time ever recorded on the Bridger Creek course.

MSU will race next at the Montana Invitational on Oct. 4 in Missoula.