ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State cross country opened their 2022 season competing in the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic at Fun Valley Park. The Rangers had three top 100 finishers in the meet helping the team place 13th overall.

"We were excited with the efforts of our programs in Kansas. It was a large meet with a multiple loop course which was new for many of our athletes. They competed hard and we are looking forward to moving to a more traditional race distance at Cameron next week. We will have an opportunity to build upon their accomplishments," stated coach Jill Lancaster.

Women’s Team

Mary Foster was the first Ranger to cross the finish line after posting a time of 21:13.42 finishing in 68th out of 142 runners. Liberty Goodnow placed 72nd with a time of 21:28.54. Leiyah Light was the third Ranger in the top 100 with a time of 22:43.52 placing 98th.

Addie Hoeme was right behind Light placing 101 with a time of 23:03.41. The Rangers than had four consecutive finishers in Jaeden Coon (23:42.28, 112th) Cameryn Boykin (23:57.79, 113th), Jerika Coon (24:02.45, 114th) and Emily Smith (24:06.19 115th). Emilie Brown finished with a time of 36:01.94 for the meet.

Northwestern overall placed 13th in the meet hosted by Hutchinson Community College.

Men’s Team

Zachary Cox was the first Ranger to cross the finish line with a time of 21:54.57 placing 42nd out of 191 runners. The other two Rangers to finish in the top 100 were Davin Soto placing 47th with a time of 22:06.84 along with Salat Ibrahim in 59th at 22:38.31.

Jeremy Smith was up next for the Rangers with a time of 23:58.89 placing at 103. Northwestern was followed by six other finishers within 30 places of each other in Benjamin Morfin, Cooper Frymire, Draven Hidalgo, Liam Johnson, Willem Johnson, Jonathan Ylitalo.

Victor Kibet (27:19.93, 163rd) was next in line for the Rangers before Desmond Bible (27:48.31, 167th) and (Rosco Setzer 34:47.28) for the Rangers.

Northwestern will return to action on Friday, Sept. 9, as the team travels to Lawton, Oklahoma for the Aggie Duels meet hosted by Cameron University.