Men's Cross Country | 10/23/2015 10:59:33 AM
Championship Central (Hosted by Fort Hays State)
Kansas City, Mo. – The MIAA Cross Country Championship is scheduled to get fall championship season underway this weekend. The women’s 6K race is scheduled for 10 a.m. and the men’s 8K race for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 from Sand Plum Cross Country Course in Hays, Kan.
Tyler Rush of Missouri Southern is the top returner of the men's top 10 finishers at the 2014 MIAA Championships in Bolivar, Mo. A sophomore last year, Rush finished second in a time of 24:47.04. Other returners from last year's top 10 include Austin Bogina of Pittsburg State, Wick Cunningham of Northwest Missouri State, Drew Cargill of Southwest Baptist, and Nicholas Stewart of Lindenwood.
On the women's side, Elizabeth Luckel of Southwest Baptist is the top returner of the top 10 finishers at the 2014 MIAA Championships. A junior last year, Luckel won the individual title on her home course with a time of 21:38.54, over 13 seconds faster than the next finisher. Other returners from last year's top 10 include Hannah DeVries of Pittsburg State, Emily Harris of Missouri Southern, Kindra Emberton of Missouri Southern, Maddie Brown of Central Oklahoma, and Katherine Sitzes of Southwest Baptist.
Below you will find by school capsules entering the weekend.
For the Central Missouri men Michael Gawlick has the fastest time finishing the 8K Gary Stoner Invitational at a 25:17.29 pace. On the women’s side UCM has yet to run a 6K race but Stephanie Boan leads the squad running a 19:37.63 over 5K at the Missouri Southern Stampede.
Central Oklahoma, who will just compete in the women’s event, is led by Maddie Brown who turned in an 18:57.45 over 5K at the Missouri Southern Stampede.
Emporia State’s men’s team enters the weekend led by Daniel Claassen who ran 8K in 26:18.80 in a duel against Newman. For the women the Hornets are led by Emily Schoenfeld who finished in 23:32.90 over 6K at the Woody Greeno Invitational.
Fort Hays State, who hosts the event, is led on the men’s side by Cory Keehn who ran a 24:07.00 at the FHSU Open. For the women Chelsea Jackson leads her squad finishing in 18:31.00 over 5K at her home meet.
The Lincoln Blue Tigers, also just competing on the women’s side, are led by Jhvere Hall who turned in a 19:30.90 pace over 5K at the Forest Park Festival.
Lindenwood on the men’s side is paced by Travis Staebell who ran 26:31.60 over 8K at the Rhodes Invitational. Lisa Feurherdt is the women’s top racer entering the weekend running a 22:00.67 over 6K also at Rhodes.
For Missouri Southern Vincent Kiprop lead the men setting a 23:53.77 pace at the Chili Pepper Invitational. For the women Emily Harris sports the top time running a 17:34.80 at the 5K at the MSSU Stampede.
For the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney Cole Wellnitz leads the men with a 25:07.60 at the Rim Rock Invitational. At the same race in a 6K Morgan Benesch set the pace for the women with a 21:23.80 finish.
Northwest Missouri is led into the meet on the men’s side by Nolan Zimmer who ran a 24:57.87 pace at the Chili Pepper Invitational in Arkansas. Jessica Johnson enters the weekend with the top 6K time on her squad at 23:21.33 at the Lewis Crossover.
Pittsburg State enters the weekend led by Austin Bogina on the men’s side as he turned in a 24:34.35 at the Chili Pepper Invitational. Hope Manning has the top time for the Gorillas women with an 18:08.07 in 5K at the same race.
Finally for Southwest Baptist Drew Cargill leads the men’s squad running a 25:14.00 at the Jackling Jocks Invitational. For the women Elizabeth Luckel turned in a 5K time of 16:59.08 at the Chili Pepper Invitational in Arkansas.