Cross Country | 11/8/2023 2:52:00 PM
WINFIELD, Kan. — The Women's and Men's Cross Country teams competed at the KCAC Championships hosted this season by Southwestern College in Winfield.
The women started off the day with a fantastic team performance, with all runners running to their personal bests. In fact, the women cut nearly 4 minutes off their team time from when they ran on this same course 2 weeks ago. Overall, the women placed 6th in the KCAC, in a meet won by the University of Saint Mary. The University of Saint Mary and Tabor were selected with the 2 team automatic Bids to the NAIA Championships. Freshman Chloe Clevenger led the women with a 17th place finish, breaking her own School Record in the 6k by 23 seconds, with a time of 23:47. She was selected to the All-KCAC team, and was selected to compete at the NAIA National Championship. Chloe is the 8th McPherson Woman to ever run in the NAIA Championship. Samantha Thompson ran the 3rd all-time 6k time of 24:46, finishing a career-best 28th, improving on her 39th place a year ago. Brooke Krapes (26:16), placed 43rd, compared to 55th a year ago, Amari Robb (26:40), finished 46th, improving from 55th a year ago, and Johanna Walker finished off the scoring with a personal best of 30:16, in 64th. Kameron Nolan had an outstanding day, knocking off over a minute from her best running a 32:28.
In the men's race, Azariah Gonzalez had a great day finishing 20th overall, making the All-KCAC team, and qualifying for the NAIA National Championship. Azariah ran one of the fastest times ever for a freshman in 25:48, 8th best all-time for McPherson College. Azariah is the 16th individual qualifier in McPherson XC History. Brock Lauer (27:42), placed 58th, Paul Choi (28:04), placed 66th, Reagan Thai (28:16), in his last Cross Country race as a Bulldog ran his fastest time ever, placing 71st, and Isaac Hale (28:26), with an outstanding race, placed 73rd. The men placed eighth in a close battle between fourth and eighth but fell on the lower end of that race. The University of Saint Mary took the KCAC Championship with a rare perfect score, as they and Kansas Wesleyan took the automatic berths to the NAIA Championship.
Clevenger and Gonzalez will compete at the NAIA National Championship, on Friday, November 17th in Vancouver, Washington. Women's race at 10:30 Pacific (12:30 pm Central), while the men's race at 11:30 am Pacific (1:30 Central). The races can be watched on the NAIA Network.
Bulldog Results:
Women 6th 176 Points
Chloe Clevenger 17th 23:47 ***All-KCAC and School Record/NAIA National Qualifier
Samantha Thompson 28th 24:46 ***3rd All Time
Brooke Krapes 43rd 26:16 ***6th All-Time
Amari Robb 26th 26:40 ***Personal Best
Johanna Walker 64th 30:16 ***Personal Best
Kameron Nolan 84th 32:28 ***Personal Best
Men: 8th; 192 Points
Azariah Gonzalez 20th 25:48 ***All-KCAC and 8th All-Time/NAIA National Qualifier
Brock Lauer 58th 27:42
Paul Choi 66th 28:04
Reagan Thai 71st 28:16 ***Lifetime Best
Isaac Hale 73rd 28:26 ***Season Best
Cody Kuss 77th 28:37 ***Season Best
Austin Glezen 91st 30:10 ***Lifetime Best
Parker Roberts 101st 31:48
