MISSOULA -- Justin Morgan raced to a top-10 finish in the men's 8-kilometer race, leading the way for the Montana Tech cross country teams Friday evening in the Montana Invite. 

Morgan raced the 8k course at the University of Montana Golf Course in 25 minutes, 7.9 seconds to finish best among the meet's NAIA competitors. Fellow senior Ben Zerr also finished in the top 20 as he took 16th in 25:48.3. 

The Oredigger men took fifth at the meet. Sophomore Bryon Fanning (40th, 27:02.1), freshman Noah Miller (48th, 28:04.7), and freshman Michael Marlow (28:15.1) also landed in the top 50. Freshmen Layne Niemeyer (52nd, 28:30.2) and Jacob Piapot (29:34.7) rounded out the scoring for Tech. 

Prior to the men's race, the Montana Tech women cruised to a fourth-place finish in their 5k race. Senior Alyssa Jany and freshman Amy Broek landed in the top 15, and senior Kamryn Comba wasn't far behind in 20th. 

Jany led the way for Tech at 19:27.2, while Broek crossed the line in 19:31. Comba stopped the watch at 19:49.2. 

Freshman Mya Green (26th, 20:12.2), sophomore Bella Bermingham (35th, 20:43.6), freshman Kendra Jensen (37th, 20:56), and freshman Hadyn Garza (46th, 21:22.5) also scored for the Orediggers. 

Tech's women were the top NAIA team at the meet. 

Idaho's Alex Terry won the women's race in 18:08.4; Seth Babbel of Idaho State finished first in the men's at 24:30.1. Idaho won the women's team title, while Idaho State took the men's championship. 

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