Sept. 20, 2008

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams come in second place at the 27th annual Montana State Invitational. The men took second out of 11 teams, and the women took second out of 13 teams.

Senior Ben Kessen finished second overall, running the five-mile race in 24:36.00. On the women's side, freshman Ruth Hilton was the first Aggie finisher coming in at 17:38.00 in the three-mile race which placed her eighth overall. In both races, Weber State took first place.

"Ben ran really well; he beat a few guys this week that beat him in our season opener at home," Coach Gregg Gensel said. "Kessen ran the race in the same time that Seth Wold ran it last year, and Seth came in second behind (Wyoming's Mark) Korir as well."

Kessen's second place finish was eight seconds behind the first-place finisher, Wyoming's Mark Korir. Kessen has been that Aggies' top finisher in all three meets thus far this season. Junior Jason Holt finished eighth running the course in 24:58.00. Freshmen Brian McKenna (25:16.00) and Daniel Howell (25:20.00) came in 13th and 15th, respectively. Also finishing in the top 20 was junior Steve Strickland (25:21.00) coming in 16th.

"The races went really well, even better than we planned." Coach Gregg Gensel said, "The thing we want at this point is improvement, and we definitely did that today."

Following Hilton's eighth-place finish was senior Caroline Berry coming in 10th, running the course in 17:45.00. Junior Erin Stratton closely followed Berry, coming in 11th at17:47.00. Also finishing in the top 20 were sophomores Kim Quinn (18.01.00) finishing 17th and Alicia Holt (18.05.00) finishing 19th.

The Aggies will continue action at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. on Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.

MSU Invitational Results
Men's Team Results
1. Weber State University	43
2. Utah State University	54
3. University of Wyoming	55
4. University of Montana	107
5. Utah Valley University	114
6. Montana State University	151
7. Dickinson State		213
8. University of Great Falls	241
9. Carroll College			285
10. Msu-Billings			332
11. Rocky Mountain College	338

Individual Finishers - Men (five-Mile)
1. Mark Korir			Wyoming		24:28.00
2. Ben Kessen			Utah State	24:36.00
3. Michael Huntington		Wyoming		24:44.00
4. David Olson			Weber State	24:52.00
5. Lynn Reynolds		Montana		24:52.00
USU Individual Results - Men (five-Mile)
2.  Ben Kessen		24:36.00
8.  Jason Holt			24:58.00
13. Brian McKenna	25:16.00
15. Daniel Howell		25:20.00
16. Steve Strickland	25:21.00
24. Chio Lopez		25:53.00
27. Nate Lloyd		25:59.00
29. Hunter Nelson		26:03.00
38. Jared Glenn		26:21.00
55. Mike Bills			27:03.00
Women's Team Results
1. Weber State University	44
2. Utah State University	60
3. University of Wyoming	71
4. University of Montana       105
5. University of Utah		111
6. Utah Valley University       140
7. Montana State University  144
8. Carroll College                 295
9. Westminster                    296
10. Msu-Billings                   300
11. Rocky Mountain College  333
12. University of Great Falls 	334
13. Dickinson State		363
Individual Finishers - Women (Three-Mile)
1. Emily Higgins	Wyoming	        17:13.00
2. Elisabeth Driscoll	Unattached	17:17.00
3. Allie Brosh		Montana		17:20.00
4. Chelsea Digrazia	Utah		17:21.00
5. Natalie Haws		Weber		17:26.00
USU Individual Results - Women (Three-Mile)
8.  Ruth Hilton		17:38.00
10. Caroline Berry	17:45.00
11. Erin Stratton	17:47.00
17. Kim Quinn		18:01.00
19. Alicia Holt		18:07.00
23. Vanessa Gledhill	18:12.00
28. Jessie Chugg	18:16.00
37. Alison Taylor	18:35.00
44. Justine Baugh	18:44.00
63. Aimee Haertel	19:57.00 

-USU-