Hillcat Cross Country Finishes Fourth at UCO Land Run

CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Rogers State men’s and women’s cross country teams both registered a fourth place finish at the UCO Land Run in Edmond on Saturday morning.

The first meet of the season added an additional challenge as rain fell steadily throughout both races, making the course extremely muddy during the men’s race.

“The course was muddy and the conditions were tough today so we didn’t really look at times to gauge how we performed,” Head Cross Country Coach Chris McCormick said. “The team came together well in the first meet of the season and I thought our new runners meshed well and we have so much depth this year on both teams which is exciting.”

Haley Taylor paced the Hillcat women with a 12th place finish with a time of 20:50.40 in the 4K event. Christy Dougherty followed in 14th with a time of 21:03.99 and Andi Gourd tallied a time of 21:27.96 in 18th. Ashtyn DeRoin registered a time of 21:41.04 and Oliva Jalomo ran the course in 21:44.40 to place 21st and 23rd respectively. Hannah Tobias and Hailey Gillispie rounded out the grounp with 34th and 39th place finishes.

“Our returners ran about where we expected and Ashtyn jumped up into our top five in her first college meet which is really going to help us,” McCormick said. “The women all ran within a minute of each other and ran well as a pack which was good to see.”

Baylor Harvey led the pack on the men’s side with a 12th place finish with a time of 21:02.20 in the four-mile event. Oscar Reyes tallied a time of 21:52.96 and Marchez Coriz followed with a time of 22:30.33 to place 20th and 21st respectively. Garrett Dyson placed 23rd and Chandler Smith earned a 24th place finish. Dyson turned in a time of 22:27.40 and Smith completed the course in 22:30.33. Ryan Alexander tallied 27th and Coty Fox rounded out the squad in 32nd.

“The men’s race was stacked with competition,” McCormick said. “OCU is the number one team in the NAIA, Oklahoma Christian is the Heartland Conference favorite and Cameron is a really strong Division II school. The guys ran really well with most of our returners improving on their times from last year which is promising considering the weather conditions. I was really excited about freshman Ryan Alexander who ran really well today.”

Oklahoma City University tallied the team title in both the men’s and women’s race. The Stars earned the individual title for both races. Peter Kosey earned the men’s individual title with a time of 20:02.71 and Michaela Werner won the women’s race in 19:38.36.

The Hillcats return to action on September 20th in Joplin, Missouri at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

For more information about RSU Cross Country, visit www.rsuhillcats.com.

2014 Women's Cross Country Season Preview

CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's cross country team will showcase its largest squad in program history heading into the 2014 season as Head Coach Chris McCormick added five newcomers to the roster while welcoming six returners back to the fold.

"I have very high expectations for the team," the fifth-year head coach of the Hillcats said. "We are in a unique spot that we return everybody and we add a whole lot of good, talented freshman, so the expectations are high."

Junior Christi Dougherty has been tabbed as a team captain along with the Hillcats' lone senior, Maria Apolinar, who is taking a redshirt for the season. Dougherty earned two top-10 finishes competing in all six meets for RSU in 2013 and looks to build on the experience of running at a higher level in the Heartland Conference.

"Christi is someone that, if she can stay healthy, then the sky is the limit for her," McCormick added. "She has been able to have a good, solid summer for the first time in a while. I look for her to really lead well."

Three other juniors are on the squad with top returners in Haley Taylor and Coree Lenhart and a newcomer in Sarah Becker. Taylor was named RSU Runner of the Year a season ago as the Hillcats' top finisher in four of the six meets, which included three top-five performances. Lenhart is hoping to bounce back from an injury that has limited her during her career on the Hill.

Andi Gourd, RSU's lone representative on the 2013 All-Heartland Conference team is back leading a trio of talented sophomores. Gourd placed 11th at the conference meet last November displaying her gifts at high-profile events. Olivia Jalomo and Hunter Thompson also ran in all six meets for the Hillcats last year and will help push the program to better results in 2014.

"We have returners that are used to running at the top like Haley and Coree," McCormick stated. "Andi is someone that will continue to improve throughout the season. That is just kind of how she runs. At the end of the season, we will be hearing her name a lot more. It is invaluable for us to have, not only returners, but returners that are leaders and want to be an example to the young girls and want to take them under their wing and guide them."

This leadership has been instrumental for the team early in preseason as seven freshmen begin their collegiate careers with the Hillcats. Jocelyn Buckner, Ashtyn DeRoin, Hailey Gillispie, Malinda Moore, and Hannah Tobias join the team for the 2014 campaign while Mia Chavez and Meg Watkins will take a redshirt season.

"All the freshmen are strong and talented and a couple are going to help us immediately from the get go," McCormick added. "Immediately from day one, Ashtyn has been up there running near the top and is just a competitive girl. Then Hannah is super talented, and if she can figure out racing at this level, she will help us no question."

The RSU schedule for 2014 will be much different than years past as the seven-meets focus on preparing for the 6,000-meter length of the conference meet. It will also feature larger meets such as the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Midwestern State Cross Country Carnival in Wichita Falls, Texas.

"I felt like last year I should have gotten (the team) more experience in the 6k, so this year I am committed to that. Basically, half our races will be 6k's this year, and not only 6k's, but 6k's in big meets against big-time NCAA Division II and Division I competition," McCormick concluded.

The Hillcats open the 2014 season Saturday in Edmond, Oklahoma at the UCO Land Run held at Edmond Sante Fe High School. It will be the third-consecutive year RSU begins the year at the event.

For more information on RSU Cross Country, visit www.rsuhillcats.com.

###

Scott D. Slarks

Sports Information Director