Robison and Gonzalez Lead Wayland Cross Country at SAC Championships

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – The Wayland Baptist men's and women's cross country teams competed in the 2026 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 7, at Pollards Field in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The Pioneers finished sixth in the men's 8K race and eighth in the women's 6K race.

Men's 8K Championship

The Wayland Baptist men's team finished sixth out of nine scoring teams with 166 points, led by junior Ryder Robison, who placed 19th overall with a time of 26:05.64.

Freshman Israel Esparza followed with a 38th-place finish, crossing the line in 27:09.70. Senior Ethan Jonason was the third Pioneer to finish, placing 49th with a time of 28:14.64.

Sophomore Brandon Marines finished 60th overall with a time of 29:04.64, while sophomore Alex Naranjo rounded out Wayland's five scoring runners in 66th place at 29:45.00.

Junior Diego Castaneda also competed for the Pioneers, finishing 69th with a time of 30:08.58, followed by freshman Jorge Rangel in 77th place at 32:09.86.

Oklahoma City University claimed the men's SAC Championship with 35 points, narrowly edging Mid-America Christian University, which finished second with 37 points. John Brown University rounded out the top three with 75 points.

Women's 6K Championship

On the women's side, Wayland Baptist placed eighth out of nine scoring teams with 230 points.

Freshman Aleyda Gonzalez led the Pioneers with a 44th-place finish, completing the 6K course in 27:56.17.

Fellow freshman Sofia Melendez followed closely behind, finishing 49th overall with a time of 28:36.73.

Freshman Miyah Amador-Farrier placed 59th with a time of 34:50.36, while freshman Kiana Bailey crossed the finish line in 36:19.07 to finish 60th overall.

Sophomore Nathaniela King rounded out the Wayland women's scoring lineup, finishing 65th with a time of 40:39.81.

Oklahoma City University captured the women's SAC Championship with 28 points, followed by John Brown University in second with 46 points and College of the Ozarks in third with 79 points.

Wayland Baptist Individual Results

Men's 8K – 6th Place (166 Points)

• Ryder Robison – 19th – 26:05.64

• Israel Esparza – 38th – 27:09.70

• Ethan Jonason – 49th – 28:14.64

• Brandon Marines – 60th – 29:04.64

• Alex Naranjo – 66th – 29:45.00

• Diego Castaneda – 69th – 30:08.58

• Jorge Rangel – 77th – 32:09.86

Women's 6K – 8th Place (230 Points)

• Aleyda Gonzalez – 44th – 27:56.17

• Sofia Melendez – 49th – 28:36.73

• Miyah Amador-Farrier – 59th – 34:50.36

• Kiana Bailey – 60th – 36:19.07

• Nathaniela King – 65th – 40:39.81

The SAC Championships brought together conference competitors for the men's 8K and women's 6K races, with Wayland Baptist represented by 12 finishers across both events.