WHITEFISH, Mont. – The Frontier Conference announced the Frontier Conference/Erck Hotels Runner of the Week awards today. Montana Tech's Edwin Kipainoi and Hailey Nielson received the conference honors.

The Oredigger cross country teams ran their first meet of the year at the MSU Cross Country Classic in Bozeman, Montana last Saturday. Both squads finished in sixth place in the field of teams that included NCAA Division I and II schools as well as the Frontier Conference teams. The Orediggers were second among the other schools in the conference.

Junior transfer Edwin Kipainoi was the top Frontier Conference finisher and took 16^th in a field of 75 runners. Kipainoi, from Kajiado, Kenya, finished with a time of 25:51.00 in the five mile race.

Sophomore Hailey Nielson was also first among Frontier Conference competitors. Nielson, from Butte, Montana, finished in 15^th out of 76 runners with a time of 18:05.40 in the three mile race.

Montana Tech competes at the rescheduled Frontier Conference Preview Meet at Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena on September 27^th.