Helena, Mont. – The No. 20 Women's Cross Country and No. 20 Men's Cross Country Saints travel to the Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships Friday November 7 in Billings, Mont.

 

Saints Recap

 

At the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge two weeks ago, the women placed 8th overall and the men 9th. Both groups outscored multiple ranked and receiving votes teams. The men were beat out by a strong Rocky Mountain College squad and the women by Montana Tech, setting up a competitive meet this week at the Frontier Championships.

 

Last year the Saints men won their 4th consecutive Conference Championship by only one point over Rocky and the Saints women placed 2nd to Montana Tech. While the women did not receive an at large bid to Nationals and thus didn't compete there for the first time since 2018, the men went on to place 12th at the National Meet - their highest finish since 2015.

 

Preview

 

The Saints will travel a full squad to Billings with 15 racing on the men's side and 19 on the women's. Multiple individuals will race in their final Frontier Conference Cross Country Meet: seniors Madalen Shipman, Ali Cunningham, Zack Gacnik, Daniel Koralewski, Brycen Gardner, and Peter Rehberger. Freshmen Olivia Gaugel, Ariel Brewer, Ryah O'Dell, and Faye Holland will run their first 6k of their careers.

 

Weather is expected to be in the mid to high-40s with decent winds, but the focus will be on racing as opposed to times with the championship setting. To qualify for Nationals, the Saints will need to win on either side to receive an automatic qualifier. Teams can also qualify via an at-large bid with a high enough national ranking, and it does seem likely that a second Frontier team will receive a bid this year on each side. While the Saints' current No. 20 would be in qualifying range, rankings will reconfigure after the conference meets this weekend so the Saints' will be aiming to run their very best to secure a position at Nationals. This will be the first meet with the full set of teams from the expanded Frontier Conference, so that also adds uncertainty and competitiveness.

 

"We have really built momentum over the course of the season and are putting our full, healthy group out on the course for the first time this year," said Head Coach Shannon Flynn. "We're focusing on being in the present and controlling what we can. It's going to be fun to get to see what we can do!"

 

The women's 6k race will start at 10:30 am at Amend Park in Billings with the men's 8k race at 11:30 am. An awards ceremony will follow at 12:45 pm to recognize Champions of Character as well as athletic and academic awards.

 

Live results will be available at this LINK.

 

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