NCAA Cross Country Runs Into Billings This Weekend

Visit Billings brings the 2014 NCAA Division II Women’s and Men’s West Region Cross Country Championships to Billings on November 22, 2014. The major NCAA event will be hosted by MSU Billings at Amend Park.

“Hosting this event in Billings is not only a great opportunity to bring people to the city, but also places Billings on the NCAA map and positions the destination well for future events,” explains Visit Billings Executive Director Alex Tyson. “The championships will have an immediate positive impact on the local economy with up to 30 universities from the NCAA DII West Region attending, and as many as 500 athletes from eight states expected to attend.” The event is expected to impact the economy in Billings by nearly $700,000 over a three-day period. Two championship races are scheduled: the men’s 10,000 meters starting at 11:00 a.m. and women’s 6,000 meters starting at 12:15 p.m.

The effort to bring the regionals to Billings is the result of collaboration between Visit Billings, MSUB Athletics, Billings Public Schools, Rocky Mountain College Athletics, Billings Parks and Recreation, Yellowstone Rim Runners, Big Sky State Games, Amend Park Maintenance Group, and the Billings Chamber of Commerce. Funding by Visit Billings helped to secure this event.

This event determines which five women’s teams and five men’s teams will advance to the Division II National Championships held December 4-5. The NCAA Division II Women’s and Men’s West Region Cross Country Championships will return to Billings again in 2016.

The MISSION of Visit Billings is to generate room nights for lodging facilities in the city of Billings by effectively marketing our region as a preferred travel destination.

Visit Billings is managed by the Billings Chamber of Commerce.