Dennis, a sophomore transfer from Cloud County Community College (Kan.), finished first in his first competition as a Pioneer when the Kenyan crossed the finish line in front of 71 other runners at the Buffalo Stampede hosted by West Texas A&M University on Friday evening in Canyon.

Dennis, who was named Sooner Athletic Conference men's cross country runner of the week, posted a 6-kilometer time of 19 minutes, 2 seconds, some five seconds in front of runner-up Keynan Abdi of Lubbock Christian.

"Dennis is exactly what I thought he would be," WBU coach Brian Whitlock said. "He will be one of the favorites to win the individual NAIA title."