Kansas State Pulls Out Second Place Finish at the JK Gold Classic

WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas State cross country team began its 2019 season with a second-place finish from the men's side at the JK Gold Classic at the Four Mile Creek Resort on Saturday (September 7). Freshman Jack Thomas claimed the top spot at the event for all K-State runners, placing in 6^th place while posting a time of 18:51.6 in the 6k race.

Competing in the first race of the 2019 campaign, the Wildcats displayed a consistent pace amongst the 15 schools participating on Saturday morning, finishing with 47 points. Last season, the men's team won the JK Gold Classic with a score of 25 points. Overall, six runners placed in the top-25, with four of those being underclassmen.

Thomas' time of 18:51.6 in the 6k race tops former Wildcat Joe Gorthy's 19:04.6 time from last year's meet at the Four Mile Creek Course.

Rounding out the top 10 of the 6k race would be redshirt freshman Kerby Depenbusch, who completed his run with a 19:14.4 mark. Falling just outside the top 10 would be junior runner Noah Stevenson (11^th, 19:16.2) and freshman runner Jack Moore (12^th, 19:17.2).

Senior Keegan Donahue (19^th, 19:50.7) set a personal best in the 6k race at the Four Mile Creek Course, improving his time by over two minutes. Sophomore Mike Rohlinger (21^st, 20:01.9) contributed with a top-25 finish.

Ending the men's race for K-State would be juniors Travis Hodge (36^th, 20:42.1) and Pierce Flanders (103^rd, 22:39.3), helping K-State keep pace with Wichita State, who would win the race with 16 points and prevented the K-State men's squad from repeating as back-to-back champions.

The women's side was unable to run a full squad at the meet due to injuries. Individually, the Wildcats were led at the top by sophomore Cayli Hume, who posted a 15:01.1 time to take a 12^th place finish on Saturday morning. Following Hume would be freshmen Hannah Stewart (29th, 15:52.1), Sydney Burton (32^nd, 15:54.1) and Julia Larkin (61^st, 16:52.1), who competed in their first races as Wildcats.

"We had a conservative start to the race and finished strong," stated Head Coach Ryun Godfrey. "We will run a complete team at Nebraska in a couple weeks and I think the teams will have a lot to look forward too."

The Wildcats have a few weeks off before heading up to Lincoln, Nebraska to compete in the Jay Dirksen Invitational on September 21.

For the latest on K-State cross country follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Men's team finishes: 1. Wichita State, 16 points; 2. K-State, 47 points; 3. Emporia State, 73 points; 4. Ottawa, 158 points; 5. Friends, 200 points

K-State men's finishes: 6. Jack Thomas, 18:51.6; 10. Kerby Depenbusch, 19:14.4; 11. Noah Stevenson, 19:16.2; 12. Jack Moore, 19:17.2; 19. Keegan Donahue, 19:50.7; 21. Mike Rohlinger, 20:01.9; 36. Travis Hodge, 20:42.1; 103. Pierce Flanders, 22:39.3

Women's team finishes: 1. Wichita State, 18 points; 2. Missouri State, 39 points; 3. Emporia State, 105 points; 4. Friends, 118 points; 5. Cowley College, 132 points

K-State women's finishes: 12. Cayli Hume, 15:01.1; 29. Hannah Stewart, 15:52.1; 32. Sydney Burton, 15:54.1; 61. Julia Larkin, 16:52.1

Kansas State Pulls Out Second Place Finish at the JK Gold Classic

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Burton

Kerby Depenbusch

Keegan Donahue

Pierce Flanders

Joe Gorthy

Travis Hodge

Cayli Hume

Julia Larkin

Jack Moore

Mike Rohlinger

Noah Stevenson

Jack Thomas