BILLINGS -- Montana Tech's men's cross country team continued to build on the 2026 season with a third-place finish in a tough field Monday at the Frontier Conference Preview. 

The Orediggers compiled 67 team points, finishing only behind tournament host and 20th-ranked Rocky Mountain and NCAA Division II member University of Mary. 

Redshirt freshman Tyler Inabnit set the pace for Montana Tech, taking seventh place in 25:35.8 around the 8-kilometer course at Billings' Amend Park. 

Sophomore Layne Niemeyer and junior Bryon Fanning also logged top-15 finishes. Niemeyer, a Billings native, was 12th in 26:01.4 in his homecoming race, while Fanning finished 14th in 26:06.3. 

Senior Derek Schultz (26:11.4, 17th) and sophomore Noah Miller (27:30.3, 31st), another Billings hometowner, were the remainder of the scoring five for Montana Tech. 

Freshman Paige Braseth led the way for the Oredigger women, coming in 25th at 24:43.9 on the 6-kilometer course. Sophomore Mya Green wasn't far behind, taking 31st (25:06.6). 

Sophomore Hailey Gingery rounded out the Tech lineup, taking 61st in 28:38.0. 

Montana Tech's cross country teams will return to Amend Park on Friday, November 6 to compete for the Frontier Conference championships. Prior to that, the Orediggers will head to Grand Rapids, Mich., October 23 in the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge. 

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