Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, September 5
Ashland, Neb.
6 p.m. (W) / 6:45 p.m. (M)
Kansas State University
at
Platte River Rumble Gold
K-State Women Win Platte River Rumble Gold, Men Finish Third
Sep 05, 2025 | Cross Country
This is the women's team first win since 2023
ASHLAND, Neb. – The K-State women's cross country team claimed first place in the Platte River Rumble Gold 5k on Friday (September 5) at Mahoney Cross Country Course. This is the first team win for the women since the Panorama Farms Classic on October 14, 2023, when the Cats finished first in the orange race with 116 points.
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The women had three Wildcats claim top-5 finisher spots while nine runners landed in the top-50 for 34 team points, ahead of second-place finisher Nebraska with 68 points. The men's team finished in 3rd place with 79 points behind winner Iowa Western (50 points) and Northwest Missouri State (52 points).
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"I thought our women looked really strong from start to finish," head coach Kate Bucknam said. "They did a great job of packing up front and covering for each other. Everyone is not going to be 100 percent every race so to see them step up for each other where needed was really encouraging to see."
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Senior Cecilia Fisher claimed the women's runner-up spot with a time of 17:21.52, now the no. 21 fastest time in the K-State school records. Fellow senior Grace Meyer crossed the finish line 3rd in 17:29.40 while sophomore Christine Jerono was just two seconds shy in 5th place at 17:31.45. All three women recorded their fastest 5k times, an accomplishment three years in the making for Fisher and Meyer.
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The last returning competitor was junior Paige Baker who clocked in at 18:02.96 for 13th place, achieving a personal best as well by over 45 seconds. Finishing right behind Baker was the first K-State freshman across the line, Payton Fink, in the 14th spot at 18:06.51.
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Three more freshmen also competed in their first race, Bree Allen (22nd; 18:12.92), Hanna Keltner (34th; 18:32.23) and Anna Pozdeeva (44th; 18:50.87). Junior transfer from Iowa Western Angie Pondler (48th; 18:59.04) raced for the first time after competing just once last season.
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For the men, sophomores Jackson Esquibel and Brock Olsen crossed the finish line consecutively in the top-10, Esquibel in 9th place at 18:07.45, a significant personal best from his lone 6k last season, while Olsen placed 10th with a time of 18:11.60 in his first collegiate race.
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The first two freshmen to cross the line were Dylan Plath (16th; 18:24.02) and Logan Beckman (21st; 18:28.23) while senior Julian Avila (25th; 18:35.04) landed in the top-25, competing in just his second 6k since 2023.
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Rounding out the rest of the men's team was freshman Canyon Buehler (33rd; 18:48.26), junior Jacob Norris (43rd; 18:59.73), with his new fastest time, and freshmen Caleb Prettyman (55th; 19:13.71) and Vance Krudwig (69th; 19:32.19).
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K-State has four weeks before their next race, the Joe Piane Invitational, on Friday, October 3, in South Bend, Ind., at Burke Cross Country Course hosted by Notre Dame.
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FROM THE COURSE
Head Coach Kate Bucknam
On how both teams started the season…
"Really proud of both squads today. It's important to see where we're at early on in the season and so I just asked them to put forth their best effort knowing there's a lot of work yet to be done. I thought the men fought well. Jackson did a great job of setting the tone and getting up front early. Brock had a heck of a day in his debut race and did a great job of staying close to Jackson."
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On the efforts of the freshmen...
"All in all, really proud of how both teams finished the last half of their races today and for our freshmen, who make up a big chunk of the team, stepped up and helped the overall team score. A lot of work to do but looking forward to a solid training block before Notre Dame."
Senior Cecilia Fisher
On her personal success as runner-up in the women's 5k...
"It felt really great! I had a lot of fun. I ran two meets unattached during the [outdoor] track season last spring, but I really missed representing K-State and racing with the team. Cross country is really special because of how team-oriented it is and it was so fun getting back on the course with our young team!"
On all the women starting the season fast...
"It's a huge boost of confidence for our team! It's so fun to leave the first meet with a win and it is also tangible evidence that we have the potential to do some big things this year as a team. Everyone's spirits are high and it's helping to continue to create a very positive and hard-working atmosphere."
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Women's Team Finishes (5k)
1. K-State, 34 pts
2. Nebraska, 68 pts
3. South Dakota, 71 pts
4. Nebraska-Kearney, 102 pts
5. Creighton, 120 pts
6. Iowa Western CC, 152 pts
7. Nebraska Omaha, 168 pts
8. Northwest Missouri, 229 pts
9. Indian Hills CC, 269 pts
10. Missouri Western, 287 pts
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K-State's Individual Results
2. Cecilia Fisher, 17:21.52 (PR)
3. Grace Meyer, 17:29.40 (PR)
5. Christine Jerono, 17:31.45 (PR)
13. Paige Baker, 18:02.96 (PR)
14. Payton Fink, 18:06.51
22. Bree Allen, 18:12.92
34. Hanna Keltner, 18:32.23
44. Anna Pozdeeva, 18:50.87
48. Angie Pondler, 18:59.04
101. Delaney Wright, 23:54.12
102. Jourdin Edwards, 23:58.48
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Men's Team Finishes (6k)
1. Iowa Western CC, 50 pts
2. Northwest Missouri, 52 pts
3. K-State, 79 pts
4. Nebraska-Kearney, 107 pts
5. South Dakota, 112 pts
6. Nebraska, 167 pts
7. Creighton, 179 pts
8. Indian Hills CC, 203 pts
9. Missouri Western, 235 pts
10. Southeast CC, 324 pts
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K-State's Individual Results
9. Jackson Esquibel, 18:07.45 (PR)
10. Brock Olsen, 18:11.60
16. Dylan Plath, 18:24.02
21. Logan Beckman, 18:28.23
25. Julian Avila, 18:35.04 (PR)
33. Canyon Buehler, 18:48.26
43. Jacob Norris, 18:59.73 (PR)
55. Caleb Prettyman, 19:13.71
69. Vance Krudwig, 19:32.19
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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 X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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The women had three Wildcats claim top-5 finisher spots while nine runners landed in the top-50 for 34 team points, ahead of second-place finisher Nebraska with 68 points. The men's team finished in 3rd place with 79 points behind winner Iowa Western (50 points) and Northwest Missouri State (52 points).
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"I thought our women looked really strong from start to finish," head coach Kate Bucknam said. "They did a great job of packing up front and covering for each other. Everyone is not going to be 100 percent every race so to see them step up for each other where needed was really encouraging to see."
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Senior Cecilia Fisher claimed the women's runner-up spot with a time of 17:21.52, now the no. 21 fastest time in the K-State school records. Fellow senior Grace Meyer crossed the finish line 3rd in 17:29.40 while sophomore Christine Jerono was just two seconds shy in 5th place at 17:31.45. All three women recorded their fastest 5k times, an accomplishment three years in the making for Fisher and Meyer.
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The last returning competitor was junior Paige Baker who clocked in at 18:02.96 for 13th place, achieving a personal best as well by over 45 seconds. Finishing right behind Baker was the first K-State freshman across the line, Payton Fink, in the 14th spot at 18:06.51.
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Three more freshmen also competed in their first race, Bree Allen (22nd; 18:12.92), Hanna Keltner (34th; 18:32.23) and Anna Pozdeeva (44th; 18:50.87). Junior transfer from Iowa Western Angie Pondler (48th; 18:59.04) raced for the first time after competing just once last season.
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For the men, sophomores Jackson Esquibel and Brock Olsen crossed the finish line consecutively in the top-10, Esquibel in 9th place at 18:07.45, a significant personal best from his lone 6k last season, while Olsen placed 10th with a time of 18:11.60 in his first collegiate race.
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The first two freshmen to cross the line were Dylan Plath (16th; 18:24.02) and Logan Beckman (21st; 18:28.23) while senior Julian Avila (25th; 18:35.04) landed in the top-25, competing in just his second 6k since 2023.
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Rounding out the rest of the men's team was freshman Canyon Buehler (33rd; 18:48.26), junior Jacob Norris (43rd; 18:59.73), with his new fastest time, and freshmen Caleb Prettyman (55th; 19:13.71) and Vance Krudwig (69th; 19:32.19).
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K-State has four weeks before their next race, the Joe Piane Invitational, on Friday, October 3, in South Bend, Ind., at Burke Cross Country Course hosted by Notre Dame.
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FROM THE COURSE
Head Coach Kate Bucknam
On how both teams started the season…
"Really proud of both squads today. It's important to see where we're at early on in the season and so I just asked them to put forth their best effort knowing there's a lot of work yet to be done. I thought the men fought well. Jackson did a great job of setting the tone and getting up front early. Brock had a heck of a day in his debut race and did a great job of staying close to Jackson."
Â
On the efforts of the freshmen...
"All in all, really proud of how both teams finished the last half of their races today and for our freshmen, who make up a big chunk of the team, stepped up and helped the overall team score. A lot of work to do but looking forward to a solid training block before Notre Dame."
Senior Cecilia Fisher
On her personal success as runner-up in the women's 5k...
"It felt really great! I had a lot of fun. I ran two meets unattached during the [outdoor] track season last spring, but I really missed representing K-State and racing with the team. Cross country is really special because of how team-oriented it is and it was so fun getting back on the course with our young team!"
On all the women starting the season fast...
"It's a huge boost of confidence for our team! It's so fun to leave the first meet with a win and it is also tangible evidence that we have the potential to do some big things this year as a team. Everyone's spirits are high and it's helping to continue to create a very positive and hard-working atmosphere."
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Women's Team Finishes (5k)
1. K-State, 34 pts
2. Nebraska, 68 pts
3. South Dakota, 71 pts
4. Nebraska-Kearney, 102 pts
5. Creighton, 120 pts
6. Iowa Western CC, 152 pts
7. Nebraska Omaha, 168 pts
8. Northwest Missouri, 229 pts
9. Indian Hills CC, 269 pts
10. Missouri Western, 287 pts
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K-State's Individual Results
2. Cecilia Fisher, 17:21.52 (PR)
3. Grace Meyer, 17:29.40 (PR)
5. Christine Jerono, 17:31.45 (PR)
13. Paige Baker, 18:02.96 (PR)
14. Payton Fink, 18:06.51
22. Bree Allen, 18:12.92
34. Hanna Keltner, 18:32.23
44. Anna Pozdeeva, 18:50.87
48. Angie Pondler, 18:59.04
101. Delaney Wright, 23:54.12
102. Jourdin Edwards, 23:58.48
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Men's Team Finishes (6k)
1. Iowa Western CC, 50 pts
2. Northwest Missouri, 52 pts
3. K-State, 79 pts
4. Nebraska-Kearney, 107 pts
5. South Dakota, 112 pts
6. Nebraska, 167 pts
7. Creighton, 179 pts
8. Indian Hills CC, 203 pts
9. Missouri Western, 235 pts
10. Southeast CC, 324 pts
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K-State's Individual Results
9. Jackson Esquibel, 18:07.45 (PR)
10. Brock Olsen, 18:11.60
16. Dylan Plath, 18:24.02
21. Logan Beckman, 18:28.23
25. Julian Avila, 18:35.04 (PR)
33. Canyon Buehler, 18:48.26
43. Jacob Norris, 18:59.73 (PR)
55. Caleb Prettyman, 19:13.71
69. Vance Krudwig, 19:32.19
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-- k-statesports.com --
 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 X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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