BILLINGS -- Justin Morgan made history Friday, becoming the first Montana Tech men's cross country runner to win a Frontier Conference title. 

Morgan, a graduate student from Thompson Falls, raced the 8-kilometer course at Billings' Amend Park in 24:47.8 to win the race by more than 3 seconds and lead the Orediggers to a fourth-place team finish at the conference-championship meet. 

Senior Ben Zerr joined Morgan on the all-conference team, finishing ninth in 25:27.9. 

Freshmen Michael Marlow, Layne Niemeyer, and Noah Miller made up the rest of the scoring five for Tech. Marlow was 36th (27:16.7), Niemeyer finished close behind in 39th (27:19.8), and Miller took 53rd (27:51.0). 

Sophomore Bryon Fanning (56th, 27:59.3) and freshman Jacob Piapot (28:31.4) also crossed the line for the Orediggers. 

No. 6-ranked Rocky Mountain won the team title with 38 points, while No. 20 Carroll took second with 50. Bellevue edged the Orediggers for third with 126 points to Tech's 127. 

Morgan, who finished third in the 2023 Frontier championship meet, became Tech's highest-ever finisher at the conference championship with his victory. Edwin Kipainoi's runner-up race at the 2023 championship was Tech's prior best finish. 

The Orediggers will learn next week who will represent them at the NAIA championship meet, scheduled for November 21 in Tallahassee, Fla. The NAIA will announce the full men's and women's fields Tuesday, November 11 at 3 p.m.



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