GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence track and field team will compete in the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bear Open on Saturday. The event, which is jointly hosted by Montana State-Billings and Rocky Mountain College, will kick off at 10:00 a.m. in Billings, Mont.

The meet will feature not only schools from the Frontier Conference, but also some schools from North and South Dakota, including Black Hills State (NCAA Division II) and Dickinson State.

"It's a pretty big event," head coach Tony Arntson said. "We're going to get some of those Dakota teams coming in. It'll be the first time that we get to go against Carroll. The competition will be good. We're looking forward to it."

The team practiced through adverse weather conditions this week in preparation for the event.

"We got done what we needed to get done," head coach Tony Arntson said. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. It's been good. The kids have been practicing well."

The coaching staff is bringing the whole squad on the trip to Billings, debuting a few student-athletes who haven't competed yet this season. That includes Dawson Fowler, who holds the school record in the triple jump, and newcomer Terra Bertsch, who will compete in four different events on Saturday.

"I'm excited that we're bringing the whole squad," Arntson said. "We've got some kids that haven't competed yet that are going to compete. A lot of our younger kids are going to give her a go tomorrow. I'm really excited to see these kids go."