Spartan men post best national finish since 2009

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Southwestern Community College men’s cross country team exceeded its national ranking by one spot by finishing 24th in the NJCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday.

The Spartan women’s team tied for 35th place, a three-spot improvement from 2017. The men’s placing was the school’s highest since a 22nd-place finish in 2009, and it ranks as the fourth-highest finish of any Spartan cross country team in the national meet.

Iowa Central Community College won the women’s meet with 45 points, with four runners placing in the top 13 individually.

The SWCC men’s team was led by a 104th-place finish by freshman Cedrick Watson, who ran a time of 28:48.6 on the hilly 8,000-meter course in tough weather conditions.

“At race time the temperature was in the high 40s, but the main issue was sustained winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts to 40 or 45 at times,” said SWCC coach Trey Bruton. “The times were slower across the board, because it seemed like they were running into a wind or a cross wind, and when they had the wind at their back they were climbing a hill. It took a lot of mental toughness to keep going. Our goal going in was to at least finish where we were ranked (25th), so finishing in the top 25 and moving up one spot was a great accomplishment for us.”

Bruton said he’s excited about the program’s future as four of the top five Spartan men return next year with a season of experience. The lone sophomore, Shane Breheny of Nodaway Valley, was the second-ranking Spartan Saturday by placing 157th in a field of 284 runners in a time of 29:47.2.

Season-long leader Heather Jessen led the Southwestern women in 86th place in a 5K time of 21:33.3.

“Heather’s goal all year was to break 20 minutes (5,000 meter distance) and she ran well, but the conditions made it tough to post a best time,” Bruton said. “As a team we improved and now we’re recruiting to continue to build our depth.”

Men’s NJCAA Championships

Team leaders — 1. Central Arizona 100; 2. Iowa Central CC 118; 3. El Paso CC 123; 4. Paradise Valley 156; 5. Southern Idaho 165; 6. Cloud County CC 200; 7. Hutchinson CC 203; 8. Colby CC 222; 9. South Plains 239; 10. Allen CC 316; 24. Southwestern CC 675. (Total 36 teams at national meet.)

Individual leaders (8K) — 1. Andrew Kibet, Hutchinson, 25:25.4; 2. Nehemiah Too, Colby, 25:32.1; 3. Ezekiel Kipchirchir, Iowa Central, 25:37.0; 4. Dennis Kiptoo, Cloud County, 25:44.1; 5. Dennis Kiptoo, El Paso, 25:58.3; 6. Filmon Beyene, South Plains, 26:06.2; 7. Gideon Cheplak, El Paso, 26:08.1; 8. Kyle Hinson, Louisburg College, 26:09.2; 9. Elias Loriposia, El Paso, 26:15.3; 10. Emmanuel Kipngetich, Colby, 26:18.2.

Southwestern CC — 104. Cedrick Watson, 28:48.6; 157. Shane Breheny, 29:47.2; 162. Colin Shreve, 29:53.9; 166. Skyler Rawlings, 29:55.8; 179. Joshua Carstens, 30:10.9; 192. Eric Portis, 30:47.7; 237. Phillip Selmer, 32.25.4. (Total 284 competitors.)

Women’s NJCAA Championships

Team leaders — 1. Iowa Central CC 45; 2. El Paso CC 70; 3. Southern Idaho 100; 4. Cowley College 138; 5. South Plains 207; 6. Central Arizona 219; 7. Trinidad State JC 242; 8. Hawkeye CC 346; 9. Mesa CC 367; 10. Pasco-Hernando State College 369.

Individual leaders (5K) — 1. Evelyn Kemboi, El Paso, 18:17.1; 2. Gladys Jemalyo, South Plains, 18:43.8; 3. Lillian Busienel, Iowa Central, 18:55.4; 4. Marion Bartilol, Iowa Central, 19:09.1; 5. Francisca Jebor, El Paso, 19:10.0; 6. Florance Uwajeneza, Iowa Central, 19:11.2; 7. Bailey Wall, Southern Idaho, 19:16.3; 8. Kami Withers, Southern Idaho, 19:20.0; 9. Katherine Bruno, Pima CC, 19:27.1; 10. Aminata Kenyawani, Pratt CC, 19:28.3.

Southwestern CC — 86. Heather Jessen, 21:33.3; 265. Danielle Costain, 25:29.1; 268. Hannah Thompson, 25:44.3; 279. Halie Dean 27:25.2; 280. BreAnn Rhodes, 27:26.0; 291. Eleani Tinal, 30:58.0; 294. Jaida Claussen, 32:45.5. (Total 294 competitors.)