Jayhawks set to host Rim Rock Classic on Saturday

Senior Ben Burchstead was the top collegiate finisher at the season-opening Bob Timmons Classic. 

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Nearly a month since its last home meet, the Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the Rim Rock Classic on Saturday, September 30. The women’s 6K will start off the meet at 9 a.m., with the men’s 8K following at 10 a.m.
 
UMKC, Wichita State, Washburn, Bacone, Cameron and Nebraska Wesleyan will have teams competing in both races. Additionally, San Diego and Southeastern Oklahoma will bring women’s teams to Lawrence to compete in the 6K.
 
“The team is really excited to get into the competition phase of the season,” assistant coach Michael Whittlesey said. “It has been a good month of practice, but they are ready to test themselves.”
 
The Jayhawks kicked off the 2017 season by sweeping the competition in both races of the Bob Timmons Dual Classic at Rim Rock Farm on September 2. As the competition gets more challenging Saturday, both teams will look to upperclassmen to lead the way in the final home meet of the season.
 
Redshirt junior Alaina Schroeder, senior Hannah Dimmick, redshirt freshman Catherine Liggett, and redshirt sophomore Lauren Harrell all landed a spot in the top-five of the season-opening meet and will look to do the same Saturday for the Jayhawks.
 
Senior Ben Burchstead was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s race at the Bob Timmons Classic, while sophomore Avery Hale, senior Carson Vickroy, junior Jack McDonald, redshirt freshman George Letner and sophomore Bryce Richards all posted top-10 finishes.
 
“We will still be holding a couple of runners out until the Pre-Nationals meet,” Whittlesey said. “Those that are running this weekend need to continue to apply what we have been implementing in practice. If we do that, we will have a very good meet. Team work is the key.”
 
Last season’s individual Big 12 Champion and two-time All-American Sharon Lokedi will undoubtedly be the leader for the women’s team this season, while the men bring back a plethora of experience from previous years to lead the way.
 
Following the Rim Rock Classic, the Jayhawks will travel to Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the Pre-National Invitational on October 14. The meet will be ran at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, with the meet set to being at 9 a.m. CDT.
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