Saturday, October 14
Sunnyvale, CA (Baylands Regional Park)
9:45 a.m.
Montana State University
at
Bronco Invitational
Photo by: Colter Peterson
MSU Women Highlight Bronco Invite With Runner-Up Finish in Talented Field
10/14/2017 11:53:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
The Montana State women’s cross country squad nearly earned a team title at the Bronco Invitational as the Bobcats finished a close second on Saturday
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The Montana State women's cross country squad nearly earned a team title at the Bronco Invitational as the Bobcats finished a close second on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Baylands Regional Park.
The Bobcat women's team finished runner-up in a field of 20 teams, while the MSU men's team placed seventh out of 17.
Junior Kelsi Lasota led the MSU women's squad in the 6-kilometer race with a sixth-place overall finish in a time of 20 minutes, 39.8 seconds. Sophomore Anna French joined her in the top 10 by taking ninth with a mark of 20:42.5.
Freshmen Samantha Kelderman and Trisha Carlson earned their best finishes in the MSU lineup this season to help contribute to the Bobcat cause. Kelderman took 14th overall by crossing the line in 20:51.8 and Carlson finished with a time of 21:02.5 and came in at 22nd. Senior Caroline Hardin (21:07.9) rounded out the Bobcats' scoring lineup by finishing 25th.
"Our women's team has great depth and our runners that finished in the top five ran really well," Montana State head coach Lyle Weese said. "Kelsi Lasota had a really great race and led us out there and was up near the front. Having her up there at the front of the pack really helped our team score."
MSU had five other runners that also appeared in the Bronco Invite.
Freshmen Joby Rosenleaf (21:19.5) and Jaycie Schmalz (21:34.5) placed 33rd and 50th overall, respectively. Sophomore Madison Liechty (21:54.3) crossed the line in 67th, junior Layne Oliver (22:11.1) took 82nd and Morgan Jones (23:53.0) completed the Bobcat contingent by finishing 148th.
"The big thing is that we're not as familiar with courses like this that are lightning fast," Weese said. "We were a little out of our element but considering that and also that it was our first 6K of the year, I thought they absolutely did a great job. I think it really sets us up well to run well at the conference championships."
The Bobcats' 67 points put the women's squad just seven shy of meet-winner San Jose State (60). San Jose State had four runners finish in the top 10 to earn the meet crown. MSU was the top-finisher among six Big Sky schools and placed ahead of third-place finisher Oregon State of the Pac-12 by 35 points.
"It was a little difficult to get a read on the teams that we were going up against," Weese said. "I thought going in that Oregon state would be our toughest competition on the women's side, and it ended up that San Jose State was flying under the radar. They really put together a great race, especially their top three were right at the front. Our depth made up for a bit of that with our fifth runner, but we just couldn't overcome their top three."
Freshmen Brandon Hough and Collin Buck led the Bobcat men's team for the second-consecutive meet. Hough crossed the finish line in the 8K race in a time of 24:12.4 for 22nd overall and Buck took 34th with a mark of 24:33.2.
Junior Anthony Schmalz (24:42.2) placed 45th overall, sophomore Cameron Carroll (24:53.4) finished 57th and sophomore Gannon Chamberlain (25:06.8) took 78th to round MSU's scoring lineup.
"It was great to see Gannon and Anthony run well," Weese said. "When you have athletes that have been in your program for a few years, you always know they're going to come along. That's what's happening now. It's starting to come together for them and they ran well today."
Montana State was also represented by Andrew Vandine (25:56.9) and Riley Collins (26:10.5).
The Bobcats accumulated 193 points in the Invite and were the top Big Sky scoring team out of five that competed in the meet. Portland earned the Bronco Invite crown with 66 points and was followed by Utah Valley (93) and host Santa Clara (130).
The Bobcat cross country teams return to action on Oct. 28 when MSU travels to Ogden, Utah, for the Big Sky Conference Championships.
The Bobcat women's team finished runner-up in a field of 20 teams, while the MSU men's team placed seventh out of 17.
Junior Kelsi Lasota led the MSU women's squad in the 6-kilometer race with a sixth-place overall finish in a time of 20 minutes, 39.8 seconds. Sophomore Anna French joined her in the top 10 by taking ninth with a mark of 20:42.5.
Freshmen Samantha Kelderman and Trisha Carlson earned their best finishes in the MSU lineup this season to help contribute to the Bobcat cause. Kelderman took 14th overall by crossing the line in 20:51.8 and Carlson finished with a time of 21:02.5 and came in at 22nd. Senior Caroline Hardin (21:07.9) rounded out the Bobcats' scoring lineup by finishing 25th.
"Our women's team has great depth and our runners that finished in the top five ran really well," Montana State head coach Lyle Weese said. "Kelsi Lasota had a really great race and led us out there and was up near the front. Having her up there at the front of the pack really helped our team score."
MSU had five other runners that also appeared in the Bronco Invite.
Freshmen Joby Rosenleaf (21:19.5) and Jaycie Schmalz (21:34.5) placed 33rd and 50th overall, respectively. Sophomore Madison Liechty (21:54.3) crossed the line in 67th, junior Layne Oliver (22:11.1) took 82nd and Morgan Jones (23:53.0) completed the Bobcat contingent by finishing 148th.
"The big thing is that we're not as familiar with courses like this that are lightning fast," Weese said. "We were a little out of our element but considering that and also that it was our first 6K of the year, I thought they absolutely did a great job. I think it really sets us up well to run well at the conference championships."
The Bobcats' 67 points put the women's squad just seven shy of meet-winner San Jose State (60). San Jose State had four runners finish in the top 10 to earn the meet crown. MSU was the top-finisher among six Big Sky schools and placed ahead of third-place finisher Oregon State of the Pac-12 by 35 points.
"It was a little difficult to get a read on the teams that we were going up against," Weese said. "I thought going in that Oregon state would be our toughest competition on the women's side, and it ended up that San Jose State was flying under the radar. They really put together a great race, especially their top three were right at the front. Our depth made up for a bit of that with our fifth runner, but we just couldn't overcome their top three."
Freshmen Brandon Hough and Collin Buck led the Bobcat men's team for the second-consecutive meet. Hough crossed the finish line in the 8K race in a time of 24:12.4 for 22nd overall and Buck took 34th with a mark of 24:33.2.
Junior Anthony Schmalz (24:42.2) placed 45th overall, sophomore Cameron Carroll (24:53.4) finished 57th and sophomore Gannon Chamberlain (25:06.8) took 78th to round MSU's scoring lineup.
"It was great to see Gannon and Anthony run well," Weese said. "When you have athletes that have been in your program for a few years, you always know they're going to come along. That's what's happening now. It's starting to come together for them and they ran well today."
Montana State was also represented by Andrew Vandine (25:56.9) and Riley Collins (26:10.5).
The Bobcats accumulated 193 points in the Invite and were the top Big Sky scoring team out of five that competed in the meet. Portland earned the Bronco Invite crown with 66 points and was followed by Utah Valley (93) and host Santa Clara (130).
The Bobcat cross country teams return to action on Oct. 28 when MSU travels to Ogden, Utah, for the Big Sky Conference Championships.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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