Helena, Mont. – The Montana Tech track team participated in the first Frontier Conference Track & Field Championship in 47 years Thursday and Friday in Helena. The Orediggers had just ten athletes competing but eight of them earned all-conference honors.

"This meet went about as well as we ever could have drawn it up in our minds," said head Coach Zach Kughn. "I just couldn't be more proud. Like always, it was a great day to be a Digger!"

River Sheppard started the meet out on Thursday placing 2nd in the 10,000m in his debut in the event. He followed that up with a win in the 5,000m on Friday, scoring a total of 18 points for the Orediggers

"Of all the highlights of the meet River definitely comes out on top. The 10k/5k double is a daunting task, let alone for a freshman. For him to bounce back and win that 5k was truly special."

The top six in each event earned medals as well as all-conference honors. Ian Barville finished in third place in the 1500m and Jake Vetter was also third in the 800m.

On the women's side, Madison Kelly and Karolyna Buck finished 4th in 5:04 and 5th in 5:17 respectively in the 1500m, both of which were personal bests. 

Carlin Manning placed 2nd in the 400m hurdles, just off of her personal best time.

Becca Richtman won the women's 5,000m completing the sweep of the event for the Orediggers. Riley Crissman finished in third and Payton Huss placed eighth in the same event. 

"We walked away with 60 points as a team of ten which is pretty remarkable," Kughn said. "With both the quantity and quality of the recruits we have coming in we cannot wait to come out and really compete for a conference championship next year and many years to come."

Karolyna Buck doubled back to also place 7th in the 800m. Charles Carriker had a personal best in the 1500m of 4:27 to place 9th.