Friday, September 25
Columbia, Mo.
8 a.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Gans Creek Classic
K-State Continues Season at Gans Creek Classic
Sep 24, 2026 | Cross Country
The Wildcats follow up from the first race in which the men and women won team titles
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State men's and women's cross country teams continue the season with their second meet on Friday (September 25) at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo., hosted by Missouri at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course. The meet is free and open to the public.
K-State will run in the Gold Invitational races with the women's 6k beginning at 8 a.m., and the men's 8k following at 8:45 a.m. All races will be live streamed on the SEC Network+.
Fellow Midwest region teams set to race include Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wichita State. Other competitors come from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Colorado State, North Dakota, Texas and more.
The last time the Wildcats ran in the Gans Creek Classic was 2024, both teams running in the invitational race, the women's team finished 21st, the men's team in 28th place. This will be the third time competing in this race for seniors Jacob Norris and Paige Baker, the second race for juniors Jackson Esquibel and Christine Jerono.
The Cats are no stranger to the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, last season the Tigers hosted the Pre-National Invitational on October 17. During that 8k race, Esquibel ran his fastest time in 24:26.6, currently no. 15 in the school all-time top-25.
In the first race of the season on September 4, both K-State teams secured the team titles at the Platte River Rumble Gold in Ashland, Neb. Max Larson, a sophomore transfer from Tulsa, also claimed the men's individual title in the 6k with a time of 18:27.2. Two more men finished within nine seconds of Larson, the runner-up was Esquibel with a time of 18:32.3 and junior Brock Olsen claimed 3rd place in 18:36.0.
The women claimed the second-sixth place finishes in the 5k with sophomore Emma Baum earning runner-up at 17:41.9. Two freshmen were included in those top finishes, Joyce Kiptabut in 3rd place at 17:43.9 and McKenna Montgomery in 4th at 17:58.8.
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.
K-State will run in the Gold Invitational races with the women's 6k beginning at 8 a.m., and the men's 8k following at 8:45 a.m. All races will be live streamed on the SEC Network+.
Fellow Midwest region teams set to race include Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wichita State. Other competitors come from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Colorado State, North Dakota, Texas and more.
The last time the Wildcats ran in the Gans Creek Classic was 2024, both teams running in the invitational race, the women's team finished 21st, the men's team in 28th place. This will be the third time competing in this race for seniors Jacob Norris and Paige Baker, the second race for juniors Jackson Esquibel and Christine Jerono.
The Cats are no stranger to the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, last season the Tigers hosted the Pre-National Invitational on October 17. During that 8k race, Esquibel ran his fastest time in 24:26.6, currently no. 15 in the school all-time top-25.
In the first race of the season on September 4, both K-State teams secured the team titles at the Platte River Rumble Gold in Ashland, Neb. Max Larson, a sophomore transfer from Tulsa, also claimed the men's individual title in the 6k with a time of 18:27.2. Two more men finished within nine seconds of Larson, the runner-up was Esquibel with a time of 18:32.3 and junior Brock Olsen claimed 3rd place in 18:36.0.
The women claimed the second-sixth place finishes in the 5k with sophomore Emma Baum earning runner-up at 17:41.9. Two freshmen were included in those top finishes, Joyce Kiptabut in 3rd place at 17:43.9 and McKenna Montgomery in 4th at 17:58.8.
-- 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
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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