MSU-Northern harriers want to win now

The Montana State University-Northern men's and women's cross country teams are still the newest program in the Frontier Conference. But that doesn't mean the Lights and Skylights are a new program, not by a long stretch.

And entering the 2018 season, Northern, under head coach Chad Spangler, is looking to make strides.

"I expect both teams to win, or die trying," Spangler said. "That message has been clear since day one of training camp. We can't say we're a new program anymore - it's time to start winning."

And Spangler, who has been the head coach at Northern since its birth four years ago, has teams he believes can do just that.

The Skylights return NAIA national finalist Rachel David, who, last season, became the first Northern runner to make it to the national meet. David will lead a team that also returns former Havre Blue Ponies Nicole Keller, and Kaitlin Nystrom, while freshman Kaylee Nystrom also joins the squad this season.

Senior Carlee Brown, a transfer from Flathead Community College should also give the Skylights a boost, while freshmen Raini Johnson, Chloe Overlie and Grace Schwenk round out Northern's women's roster.

"Rachel David and newcomers Raini Jonson and Carlee Brown are looking really strong right now," Spangler said. "I anticipate them working together early in meets and getting some low pack points. I also think that Kaylee Nystrom and Grace Schwenk, both freshmen, are capable of getting themselves into that front pack by mid-season. Nicole Keller (Parsons), Kaitlin Nystrom, and Chloe Overlie will also be important scorers this season."

The Lights veteran runners in Havre's Luke Karnauskas and sophomore Amos Taiswa. Also back from last year's team is Kai Krumwiede and Beau Hyatt. That group will give Northern veteran experience, but a slew of new runners has Spangler excited as well, especially Hays-Lodge Pole state champion Isiah Runs Above. Havre's Austin Jones and Colorado-native Field Soosloff are two more dynamic newcomers, while Turner's Eddie Harmon could also turn some heads this season.

"Preseason training for the men suggests that Luke Karnauskas, and newcomers Field Soosloff and Isiah Runs Above are going to be very competitive throughout the season, they are capable of earning low points," Spangler said. "That said, I also know that some guys compete a lot better than they train. Guys like Beau Hyatt and Eddie Harmon are likely to find a way to score low. On top of that, I have guys like Liam Baez-Terry, Kai Krumwiede, Austin Jones and Amos Taiswa that are so healthy and consistent with their training. I predict them to improve meet after meet and peak right at conference."

So, it's clear, Northern has plenty of talent on the men's and women's teams to compete in the tough Frontier Conference this season. And competing, and winning races is what Spangler and the MSU-N's teams are after, during a schedule that includes The Montana State Invitational, a dual meet at Central Wyoming, the University of Montana Invitational, the Lewis-Clark State Invitational and the new Bulldog Invitational in Dillon. Of course, that all leads up to the Frontier Conference Championships, which are set for Nov. 2 in Great Falls.

"Our goal for both teams this season is to finish top three in our conference," Spangler said. "On the women's side, that means we'll have to beat a nationally ranked team. Right now UM-Western, LCSC and Carroll are all Top 25 in the country so a top-three finish for the Skylights would likely be a national berth. That's assuming preseason polls are close, of course. For the men, only one frontier team is currently ranked in the Top 25. LCSC is fourth in the country on the preseason poll and they're always so tough to beat. That means that if the Lights do meet their goal and finish top three, a national berth will be less likely. On the other hand, a top-three finish will likely produce some individual qualifiers, which is always something to be proud of."

The Lights and Skylights open their season today at the Carroll College Early Bird Invitational in Helena.