đź‘ź Kansas Cross Country Announces Schedule

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas cross country team announced its 2020 schedule Monday afternoon. The Jayhawks are scheduled to compete in three meets in an abbreviated season, with two to be hosted by KU at Rim Rock Farm.

"I’m super excited and thankful to have a season. A special thanks to our administration for making decisions that allow our student-athletes the opportunity to compete.The athletes are also excited to have an opportunity to compete. Our meet schedule is short, so we have to take advantage of every opportunity. We are also excited to be hosting the Big 12 Cross Country Championships on October 30 at Rim Rock Farm. Hopefully, our fans can come and cheer us on."

Head Coach Stanley Redwine
DateMeetLocation
Sept. 19Bob Timmons ClassicRim Rock Farm (Lawrence, Kan.)
Oct. 3at Gans Creek ClassicGans Creek Cross Country Course (Columbia, Mo.)
Oct. 302020 Big 12 Conference Cross Country ChampionshipRim Rock Farm (Lawrence, Kan.)

 

The Jayhawks open the season on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Rim Rock Farm outside of Lawrence when they host the Bob Timmons Classic. The Kansas State Wildcats and Iowa State Cyclones will compete against Kansas’ runners starting at 9 a.m., with the men’s 6K race, which is to be followed by the women’s 5K at 10 a.m. Both KU teams are looking to defend their titles, as the men won the annual meet for the fourth-straight season last fall. Following suit, women’s team continued its winning tradition at the 2019 event, claiming the championship for the eighth-straight time.

Kansas goes on the road for the first, and only, time this fall on Oct. 3, when the teams travel to Columbia, Missouri. That Saturday, the Jayhawks will compete in the Gans Greek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri, at Gans Creek Cross Country Course. The men will run an 8K starting at 9 a.m., while the women will compete in a 6K race at 10 a.m. In addition to the Jayhawks and Tigers, other teams included in the field are: Arkansas, Iowa State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

KU is slated to host the 2020 Big 12 Conference Cross Country Championship at Rim Rock Farm on Friday, Oct. 30. All 10 teams in the league will compete on the Jayhawks’ home course outside of Lawrence. Action will get underway at 10 a.m., with the women’s 6K while the men’s 6K is set to begin at 11 a.m. The Iowa State Cyclones and Oklahoma State Cowgirls won the 2019 Men’s and Women’s Big 12 Cross Country Championships, respectively. The last time Kansas hosted the Big 12 Championship was in 2006, also at Rim Rock Farm. This year’s conference meet will round out the season for Kansas cross country.

Seniors Ben Butler, Ethan Donley and George Letner will look to lead a team with 14 returners while also welcoming three freshmen to the roster. Last fall, the men’s team placed third at the Midwest Regional Championships, just missing an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Championships, as the top-two teams in each regional advanced. It marked the men’s highest finish at a Regional meet since 2006. Three Jayhawks were among the top-25 finishers and earned All-Region honors: senior Dylan Hodgson (14th place, 31:14.3), junior Ben Butler (20th place, 31:19.7) and freshman Chandler Gibbens, who finished 21st in 31:26.2. At the conclusion of the season, Gibbens was named the 2019 Big 12 Cross Country Men’s Newcomer of the Year.

On the women’s side, the Jayhawks’ roster is comprised of one senior, three juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen. Junior Ally Ryan was undefeated on KU’s home course last fall, running to individual titles at both the Bob Timmons Classic and the Rim Rock Collegiate Classic. Her finishes helped the Jayhawks claim both team titles at Rim Rock Farm in 2019.