Aggie Men Face a Cold Course at Fort Hays State

Victoria, Kan.—Runners contended with cool temperatures and damp conditions as the Panhandle State men’s cross country team competed in the FHSU Tiger Open at the Sand Plum Trail on Saturday.

The 8-kilometer contest opened with overcast skies and temperatures in the upper 40s and finished in the mid-50s, with muddy spots throughout the course. The Aggies were one of 12 teams competing in a field of 175 runners and placed 12th as a team, with a split time of 32:10.76.

Senior Philip Kirongo finished with the fastest time for the Aggie men, clocking an 8K time of 30:52.2 to place 145th overall. Alexis Lopez and Korby Jenkins crossed within seconds of each other, placing 155 and 159 respectively with times of 31:47.9 and 31:54.9. Baruc Ortega (32:34.9) and Firas Ghazouani (33:43.9) rounded out the men’s team, finishing at 162 and 167 individually.

Colby Community College claimed the team title with a total time of 2:10.04 and Dennis Kiptoo of Cloud County Community College earned first place as an individual with an 8-K time of 24:43.3.

The Panhandle State men’s cross country team will run their final race of the regular season this weekend in Winfield, Kan. The Aggie men compete in the NAIA Mid-States Classic on Saturday, Oct. 20. Both the men’s and women’s teams will then have a week to prepare for the Sooner Athletic Conference meet on Nov. 3.