BOZEMAN, Mont. – Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams each walked away with a first-place finish at the 44th Montana State Cross Country Classic on Saturday morning. The men, ranked 17th in the nation, finished with 24 points while the women tallied 31 points for the victories.
 
In the men's 8K race, Montana State's Duncan Hamilton placed first overall before three consecutive Aggies crossed the finish line. Seniors Mark Crandall, Roberto Porras, and Darren Harman finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, with times of 24:25.40, 24:30.40 and 24:31.40.
 
Senior Caleb Garnica narrowly missed another top-five finish for USU by one-tenth of a second, finishing in sixth place with a time of 24:31.60, while senior Haydon Cooper finished ninth with a time of 24:37.60 to round out the Aggies' top-five placers.
 
"It was a good day," said Utah State head cross country coach Artie Gulden. "The guys started it off well. We kept a really good pack and won the race as a team in the last two miles. We held out a few folks due to some sickness and other things, so the focus for the next little bit is getting them healthy."
 
Montana State, which won the event in 2019 over second-place USU, finished second with 35 points. Montana finished third with 86 while Idaho State placed fourth with 104.
 
In the women's 5K, a Montana State representative again paced the field, this time Camilla Noe. After two Weber State finishes, four consecutive Aggies crossed the finish line to propel USU to first place as a team.
 
"The ladies ran really tough," Gulden said. "Weber State has a strong, experienced team. Our ladies' depth was able to get the job done. We will look to build on this into the next couple of weeks."
 
Freshman Emma Thornley (16:33.40), seniors Katie Haviland (16:35.60) and Mica Rivera (16:37.40), and junior Bailey Brinkerhoff (16:51.00), finished fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, Junior Abigail Gray (16:53.60) finished ninth to secure the Aggie win.
 
USU narrowly edged out Weber State, which finished second with 34 points. Montana State placed third with 67 points. Idaho State finished fourth with 112 and Montana ended fifth with 155 points.
 
The women's title was Utah State's second in a row at the Montana State Cross Country Classic after beating out the field with 30 points at the event in 2019.
 
Up next for Utah State is the Idaho State Invitational on Sept. 25 in Pocatello, Idaho.
 
For more information on the Utah State track & field/cross country programs, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC.
 
MONTANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC | September 18, 2021 | Bozeman, Montana
Women's Team Results:
1. UTAH STATE – 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, (12), (13) - 31
2. Weber State – 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, (16), (18) - 34
3. Montana State – 1, 14, 15, 17, 20, (22), (27) - 67
4. Idaho State – 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, (26), (28) - 112
5. Montana – 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, (34), (35) - 155
 
Women's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Camila Noe (MSU) – 16.13.40; 2. Billie Hatch (WSU) – 16.20.00; 3. Summer Allen (WSU) – 16.29.00; 4. Emma Thornley (USU) – 16.33.40; 5. Katie Haviland (USU) – 16.35.60.
 
Utah State Women's Results: 4. Emma Thornley – 16:33.40; 5. Katie Haviland – 16:35.60; 6. Mica Rivera – 16:37.40; 7. Bailey Brinkerhoff – 16:51.00; 9. Abigail Gray – 16:53.60; 12. Abby Jensen – 17:06.80; 13. Morgan French – 17:07.40; 15. Madison Taylor – 17:12.00; 19. Karlee Christensen – 17:27.50; 23. Camilla McKinstry – 17:32.40; 24. Megan Terry – 17:32.40; 28. LeAnn Larkin-Hatch – 17:44.10; 30. Sammi Lee – 17:56.20; 31. Taylia Norris – 17:57.20; 34. Madison Strasner – 18:12.50; 36. Aubrey Thueson – 18:16.50; 38. Taylor Smart – 18:19.90; 44. Camille Wirthlin – 18:46.20; 47. Paytin Drollinger – 18:56.30.
 
Men's Team Results:
1. UTAH STATE – 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, (12), (13) – 24
2. Montana State – 1, 5, 7, 8, 14, (15), (17) – 35
3. Montana – 11, 16, 18, 20, 21, (22), (23) – 86
4. Idaho State – 10, 19, 24, 25, 26, (27) – 104
 
Men's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Duncan Hamilton (MSU) – 24.07.40; 2. Mark Crandall (USU) – 24:25.40; 3. Roberto Porras (USU) – 24:30.40; 4. Darren Harman (USU) – 24:31.30; 5. Matthew Richtman (MSU) – 24.31.50.
 
Utah State Men's Results: 2. Mark Crandall – 24:25.40; 3. Roberto Porras – 24:30.40; 4. Darren Harman – 24:31.30; 6. Caleb Garnica – 24:31.60; 9. Haydon Cooper – 24:37.60; 12. Max Wehrli – 24:59.70; 13. Devin Pancake – 25:07.30; 14. Garrett Woodhouse – 25:12.00; 15. Will Dixon – 25:14.50; 16. Bridger Altice – 25:24.60; 17. Chase Leach – 25:30.30; 26. Ben Berlin – 26:06.60.
 
-USU-