Top-ranked runners 1st in Kansas

Women's Results: https://live.athletic.net/meets/1623/xc-events/52950.
Men's Results: https://live.athletic.net/meets/1623/xc-events/52951
 
WINFIELD, Kan. – Led by Teresha Jacobs' second-place finish, the top-ranked Wayland Baptist women's cross country team secured its second straight meet win on Saturday, running away with the NAIA Mid-States Classic, hosted here by Southwestern College.

"It was a great day for our women," Wayland coach Brian Whitlock said.

Since their last outing two weeks ago, the Pioneers "hit some adversity." Nine-time all-American Elizabeth Williams will not be available the rest of the season due to a stress fracture.

"She was running really well and in the best shape of her life," Whitlock said. "We can't replace her but we can have some girls step up in order to try and win nationals, and today we really had some girls step up and run well to keep us in contention for the No. 1 ranking and a title."
 
In their final outing before the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships, the Pioneers placed four runners among the top seven spots as Wayland walked away with 37 points. No. 12-ranked Oklahoma City University was second with 73.

As a team it was Wayland's fourth-fastest team time in school history and about 20 seconds faster on the same 5k course as last year when the Pioneers finished second. 
 
Individually, Jacobs finished with a lifetime personal-best 17 minutes, 54.02 seconds. OCU's Lydia Mato won in 17:14.24.

"She is just running so well right now," Whitlock said.
 
Jackline Cherono (17:58.55), Jackline Jemeli (18:02.08) and Prudence Kiyeng (18:15.94) followed each other in fifth, sixth and seventh place.

"Jackline Cherono ran great as did Jackline Jemeli," Whitlock said, adding, "The biggest lift for us probably came from Prudence. She was our No. 1 (in the season-opening meet) but we have had a load of problems since.

As it turned out after many visits to the doctor, Kiyeng's gall bladder needs to be removed.

"We luckily got clearance to run and get that done when the season is over, but it is painful for her," Whitlock said. "We have changed her diet and got her eating foods native to her country (Kenya), which has helped tremendously."

The coach said Saturday marked Kiyeng's best run in practice or meets and the best she has felt in about a month.

"So that was a big lift for today and for the national meet. If we can continue to improve she will run very well."

Also Saturday, Taylor Williams (18:50.62) was 17^th, Tiffany Cano (19:04.37) 20^th and Tanya Pavez (20:14.73) 53^rd.

"Taylor really stepped up with a lifetime-PR that rounded out our top five. She has been a big surprise for us this year," Whitlock said. "Tiffany ran fairly well also and is getting better every week."

Whitlock also bragged on Pavez, who is in her first year running cross country after walking on four years ago.

"The first run she ever went on she almost passed out," said Whitlock, adding that "95 percent of those types of kids quit after the first year. I remember many meets where we would look at the field and hope to beat one girl or not finish last."

On Saturday, Pavez ran a lifetime best and finished 53rd out of 188.

"This is a true testament to her faith and dedication. She has improved as much as anyone I have and I am so proud of her."

A total of 188 individuals and 24 teams participated.
 
On the men's side, Martin Harding (26:11.70) and Derrick Reid (26:16.65) both posted lifetime-best times in the 8k race and led the Pioneers by placing 26^th and 29^th, respectively. Cesar Amador (28:49.92) was 106^th and Jacob Gouldie (26:35.57) 35^th. They also ran PRs.

Oscar KipKoros, who led OCU to the team title with 33 points, finished first among 180 individuals with a time of 24:37.99.
 
"The men I had run ran very well," Whitlock said.

 "Derrick ran really well. He got a lifetime best. I can't brag on him enough. I have been hard on him because I see a great deal of potential in him. That potential is showing up now. He really fell apart the last 800 meters or he would have been top 20. He can be a really good one for us.

"Martin is starting to get over the freshman hump and figure things out. I'm very proud of Jacob. He has improved more than anybody from high school. Cesar is more of an 800 guy but he is getting better at the distance every week."

Whitlock said his men's team is making the best of a bad situation.

"This is not the season that we had envisioned with only having a handful of guys run. We made the decision to red-shirt two guys on scholarship, and so this is where we are at.

"I am very proud of these guys. They have been training so hard even though they know as a team we are lacking. However, these guys believe in me as a coach and they believe in the process of what we are doing and I love these guys for the way they have approached the last month."
 
Next for the Pioneers are the SAC Championships on Nov. 3 at Oklahoma City's Woodson Park. The NAIA Championships are scheduled for Nov. 16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"We are very excited for conference coming up," Whitlock said.