Saturday, September 3
Lawrence, Kan.
9 a.m. (M) / 9:45 a.m. (W)
Kansas State University
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Bob Timmons Classic
Cross Country to Open Season at Bob Timmons Classic Saturday
Sep 01, 2022 | Cross Country
The Wildcats will compete with three other teams in the opening meet of the season
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Lawrence, Kan., on Saturday (September 3) for the Bob Timmons Classic. The men will compete in a 6k at 9 a.m., CT with the women following at 9:45 a.m., CT in a 5k. Other participating schools include Kansas, Kansas City and Oral Roberts.
Both cross country teams are riding momentum heading into the 2022 campaign after finishing in the top-5 at the Big 12 Championships for the second straight season in 2021. The men's team placed fourth a year ago in the 8k race with 121 points, while the women's squad earned a fifth-place finish in the 6k race with 143 points.
The fourth-place finish by the men tied the 2017 and 2020 teams for the highest in the Big 12 era, while the women have consecutive top-5 finishes at the conference meet for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
The 2022 season will be highlighted by return of coach Randy Cole, who previously led the Wildcats from 1997-2004 before stops as the head cross country coach at Wyoming (2004-12) and Lindenwood (2012-22). Cole led the K-State women to the 1998 Big 12 Championship, along with runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000.
The men's team returns their top-6 runners from the 2021 Big 12 Championships, including four who placed in the individual top-30 in senior Stephen Kielhofner (24th/25:30.5), junior Kerby Depenbusch (25th/25:30.9), junior Hadley Splechter (27th/25:34.1) and sophomore Mike Rohlinger (29th/25:40.5). The squad also returns other strong performers in sophomore Matthew Hauser (34th/25:56.7), senior David Lutgen (36th/26:07.6) and junior Kyle Johnston (58th/27:12.0).
"The men have experience going into the fire, so to speak, and hopefully they understand, 'OK, we're in a tough league here,' but they actually placed pretty well," said Cole. "Them going through the experience of getting into the championship races is going to help a great deal (this season)."
The women's team lost their top-2 runners but they do return several strong runners highlighted by senior Hannah Stewart, who led all runners at the Big 12 Championships with a 17th-place finish in a 6k time of 21:43.3. Other returners include fellow seniors Cailan Steward, Sydney Burton and Katie Kasunic, who all finished among the top-50 at the conference meet.
In addition to these returners, it will be the first meet for three Wildcat freshmen in Cecilia Fisher, Grace Meyer and Carson McEachern and sophomore Kate Kowalik.
Cole said of the women, "The lady's newcomers are pretty good, the tops in the state. Some of the returners like Sydney Burton, Cailan Steward and Hannah Stewart they're coming back healthy and really good shape. Some of the other returning girls they put in some good work over the summer."
This invitational being the shortest meet for both teams many runners have recorded their personal bests in this meet back in 2020. In the men's 6k: Kielhofner (11th/19:01.7), Splechter (14th/19:10.0), Moore (16th/19:15.5), Rohlinger (21st/19:29.0), Aiden Higgerson (27th/20:06.6) and Christian Buehler (29th/20:12.6). In the women's 5k: Burton (11th/ 18:44.6), Steward (17th/ 19:31.6) and Helen Giefer (18th/19:33.6).
Both teams earned nods earlier this week in the Preseason USTFCCCA Midwest Regional rankings with the women's team checking in at No. 7 and the men's team at No. 13. Host of the Bob Timmons Invitational, KU, are also featured in the rankings with both men and women looking at No. 12.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Both cross country teams are riding momentum heading into the 2022 campaign after finishing in the top-5 at the Big 12 Championships for the second straight season in 2021. The men's team placed fourth a year ago in the 8k race with 121 points, while the women's squad earned a fifth-place finish in the 6k race with 143 points.
The fourth-place finish by the men tied the 2017 and 2020 teams for the highest in the Big 12 era, while the women have consecutive top-5 finishes at the conference meet for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
The 2022 season will be highlighted by return of coach Randy Cole, who previously led the Wildcats from 1997-2004 before stops as the head cross country coach at Wyoming (2004-12) and Lindenwood (2012-22). Cole led the K-State women to the 1998 Big 12 Championship, along with runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000.
The men's team returns their top-6 runners from the 2021 Big 12 Championships, including four who placed in the individual top-30 in senior Stephen Kielhofner (24th/25:30.5), junior Kerby Depenbusch (25th/25:30.9), junior Hadley Splechter (27th/25:34.1) and sophomore Mike Rohlinger (29th/25:40.5). The squad also returns other strong performers in sophomore Matthew Hauser (34th/25:56.7), senior David Lutgen (36th/26:07.6) and junior Kyle Johnston (58th/27:12.0).
"The men have experience going into the fire, so to speak, and hopefully they understand, 'OK, we're in a tough league here,' but they actually placed pretty well," said Cole. "Them going through the experience of getting into the championship races is going to help a great deal (this season)."
The women's team lost their top-2 runners but they do return several strong runners highlighted by senior Hannah Stewart, who led all runners at the Big 12 Championships with a 17th-place finish in a 6k time of 21:43.3. Other returners include fellow seniors Cailan Steward, Sydney Burton and Katie Kasunic, who all finished among the top-50 at the conference meet.
In addition to these returners, it will be the first meet for three Wildcat freshmen in Cecilia Fisher, Grace Meyer and Carson McEachern and sophomore Kate Kowalik.
Cole said of the women, "The lady's newcomers are pretty good, the tops in the state. Some of the returners like Sydney Burton, Cailan Steward and Hannah Stewart they're coming back healthy and really good shape. Some of the other returning girls they put in some good work over the summer."
This invitational being the shortest meet for both teams many runners have recorded their personal bests in this meet back in 2020. In the men's 6k: Kielhofner (11th/19:01.7), Splechter (14th/19:10.0), Moore (16th/19:15.5), Rohlinger (21st/19:29.0), Aiden Higgerson (27th/20:06.6) and Christian Buehler (29th/20:12.6). In the women's 5k: Burton (11th/ 18:44.6), Steward (17th/ 19:31.6) and Helen Giefer (18th/19:33.6).
Both teams earned nods earlier this week in the Preseason USTFCCCA Midwest Regional rankings with the women's team checking in at No. 7 and the men's team at No. 13. Host of the Bob Timmons Invitational, KU, are also featured in the rankings with both men and women looking at No. 12.
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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