Opening Ceremonies
Opening Ceremonies
Date
Friday July 17, 2026
Location
Lockwood High School Stadium
1932 US Hwy 87 E, Billings, MT 59101
Admission
Free
Athlete FunZone and Food Truck Olympics kick off at 5:00 p.m. along with the SOAKED RUN, a crazy fun two mile water and bubble filled walk/run. Other festivities include the climbing wall, a free throw contest, family entertainment and games.
The Ceremony officially begins at 7:00pm. The program includes Parade of Athletes (walk in the parade and receive a commemorative State Games gift), fun entertainment and interactive events, and the Men’s and Women’s Montana Mile (fastest milers in Montana), traditional torch lighting, and new this year, the Men’s and Women’s Montana 100 (showcasing the fastest 100m runners in Montana).
2026 Torchlighter – Konnor Ralph
Local Montana Olympian Konnor Ralph will be lighting the cauldron on Friday, July 17 at Opening Ceremonies.
Konnor competed in the 2026 Olympics in both Slopestyle and Big Air, placing 9th overall in Slopestyle and an incredible 5th in Men’s Big Air. We are beyond excited to welcome a former Big Sky State Games athlete back to kick off our Opening Ceremonies.
Join us for a chance to meet Konnor in person at Lockwood High School in Billings, MT.
TORCHLIGHTER SPONSOR
Parking Map
Montana Mile
The Montana Mile is a race among the fastest milers in Montana! Race is held during the Opening Ceremonies.
The 2026 Montana Mile marks the 35th running for men and the 27th for women. The race is one of the most anticipated events of the Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies and is scheduled to take place Friday, July 17 at Lockwood High School Stadium in Lockwood. The Montana Mile is an invited race featuring some of the state’s fastest high school, college, and post collegiate milers.
The Women’s Montana Mile record is 4:53.9 set in 2011 by Lois Ricardi Keller. Ducan Hamiltion set the Men’s record in 2022 in 4:04.83.
2026 Montana Mile Male Participants
1. Thomas Oylear – Black Hills State
2. Anthony Ackerman – Black Hills State
3. Auston Schellig – Massachusetts Institute of Technolgy
4. Caleb Tomac – Rocky Mountain College
5. Benonaiah Bird – Hardin High School
6. Ase Ackerman – MSUB
7. Carson Steckelberg – University of Montana
8. Owen Smith – Montana State
9. Peyton Summer – Dawson Community College
2026 Montana Mile Female Participants
1. Mary Felig – MSUB
2. Addison Kegal – Billing Central
3. Gracyn Rock – MSUB
4. Ali Keith – Californa State University-Monterey Bay
5. Karis Brightwings-Pease – Billings Central
6. Jane Allen – Billings West
7. Natalie Hodgskiss – Choteau High
8. Ava Greenwell – Colorado Christian
Montana 100 Meter
Watch the fastest sprinters in the state duke it out at Opening Ceremonies for the title of Montana’s Fastest Man and Woman!
2026 Montana 100 Meter Male Participants
1. Elijah Gibson – Billings West
2. Ryan LaMere – Rocky Mountain College
3. Ian Bullard – Hellgate High
4. John Roberts – MSUB
5. Dawson Hammond – University of Montana
6. Jaxon Allery – Montana Tech
7. Brayden Zikmund – Manhattan High
8. Garret Prather – Columbus High
2026 Montana 100 Meter Female Participants
1. Alya Janzen – Montana Tech
2. Emery Peel – Montana Tech
3. Charlize Davis – Rocky Mountain College
4. Madigan Hurlbert – Florence-Carlton High
5. Sydney Sprenger – Shepherd High
6. Iris Hancock – Bozeman High
7. Maya Noble – Three Forks High
8. Nora Allen – Billings West
Enjoy your favorite local food trucks at the Food Truck Olympics during Opening Ceremonies. Vote for your favorite food truck! Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded!
