BILLINGS, Mont. – Senior Josh Panasuk finished with a strong performance as the MSUB men's cross country team placed third at the Yellowjacket Open hosted at Riverfront Park Saturday.
 
Panasuk was third for the team, covering the 4-mile course in 20:17 for 12^th place.
 
Fellow senior Garrett Love paced the MSUB effort with a fifth place result, crossing the finish line in 20:01. Junior Jorey Egeland was second for the 'Jackets, finishing ninth in 20:09.
 
Benson Keoch from Rocky Mountain College won the individual title in 19:30. From No. 14 Black Hills State, a sophomore, Jonah Thiesen, the reigning NCAA Division II national champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, finished the runner-up behind Keoch, completing the course in 19:44.

Black Hills State won the team title, placing runners in the 2-4-6-8-10 spots for a final point total of 30 for the Yellow Jackets. The University of Mary was second in the team standings with 59 points. Sophomore Derek Myers finished third for the Marauders, crossing the finish line 19:53. Mary sent runners across the finish line in the 3-7-14-17-18 scoring spots.

 

"We knew going into today that the team would be up against some very strong competition," MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. "Black Hills State is 14^th in the nation, but I thought our top-3 mixed it up well against some really quality opponents."
 
"Josh really came through today," Coppock continued. "He has been struggling lately, but today moved into our third spot. He feels like he got on track, and is back where he should be. Jorey and Garrett also ran two really good races. They have been so consistent this year. If we can get all of the runners on the same page for conference, we will do well to finish in that top-5."
 
The MSU Billings team placed third at 65 points. The Yellowjackets scored runners in the 5-9-12-19-20 places.
 
Finishing MSUB's top-5, Mark Hovland was fourth for the 'Jackets in 21^st place clocking-in a time of 20:48. Just behind, freshman Ronald Venema was 22^nd in 20:50. Packing up tight with his best finish on the team this year, junior Liam McKay placed 23^rd overall in 20:52. Finishing out the team for MSUB was Ivan Colmenero (33^rd, 21:14), Tyus Mendoza (36^th, 21:16), and Jacob Marshall (51^st, 22:11).
 
Rocky Mountain College finished the event in fourth place (83 points) followed by Montana Western (144).
 
THE BUZZ: Panasuk named the St. Vincent Healthcare Athlete of the Day.
 
UP NEXT: Today's Yellowjacket Open was the final regular season event of the year for the 'Jackets. MSUB travels to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships hosted by Western Washington on Oct. 22. Montana State University Billings then turns to hosting duties as the NCAA Division II west regional championships returns to the Magic City on Nov. 5, at Amend Park. The men's 8K race begins at 10 a.m. followed by the women's 6K at 11:15 a.m. For more details please visit msubsports.com.