BILLINGS, Mont. - Rocky Cross Country returns to Billings this Friday, hosting the Frontier Conference Preview meet at Amend Park beginning at 11 a.m.

The meet takes place on the same course that will host the Frontier Conference Championships on Nov. 6, giving conference programs a firsthand look at the championship venue. The Rocky men return to Amend for the first time since winning the second Frontier Conference title in program history last season—a crown they enter as favorites to defend.

The men's 8K race kicks off at 11 a.m. MT, with the women's 6K race following at 11:45 a.m. MT.

The Battlin' Bear men carry strong momentum into Friday following a near-sweep performance at the Butte Invitational on Sept. 24. Through three meets this season, Rocky has finished as the top-placing NAIA program in every event. Junior Caleb Tomac was named the Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Runner of the Week after a dominant individual victory in Butte, where the Havre High School product won by 27 seconds. Demonstrating the squad's depth in 2026, three different runners have crossed the line as Rocky's top finisher this fall, as senior Zachary Zwiesler led the way with a 27th-place finish at the Montana Open in Missoula, while Ashtyn Rask paced the team with a 26th-place overall finish at the season-opening MSU Bobcat Twilight 5K.

Building on a banner 2025 season that saw Rocky finish fourth at the NAIA National Championship, the Battlin' Bears continue to command national attention, checking in at No. 20 in Thursday's NAIA Top 25 Ratings.

On the women's side, a young Rocky squad will use Friday's race as an opportunity to gain valuable course experience as they compete in just their second 6K of the season. Samantha Krantz paced the team in Butte, finishing 22nd overall to lead the Battlin' Bears.