Kansas cross country opens season with Bob Timmons Classic
| Bob Timmons Classic |
|---|
| Sept. 1 |
| Rim Rock Farm |
| Men’s 6K – 8 a.m. |
| Women’s 5K – 9 a.m. |
| Live Results |
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams begin their 2018 season on Saturday, September 1 at the Bob Timmons Classic at Rim Rock Farm. The Jayhawks, along with UMKC and Oral Roberts, will be competing with the men’s 6K race starting at 8 a.m. and the women’s 5K following at 9 a.m.
“We want to really start off this season well with working as a team and racing a team race,” assistant cross country coach Michael Whittlesey said. “We want the groups working together and relaxed, both on the men’s and women’s side.”
On the women’s side, the Jayhawks have 11 returning runners, including four seniors who will lead the way this season. Among the seniors is two-time All-American and two-time Big 12 Cross Country Women’s Runner of the Year Sharon Lokedi. Joining Lokedi leading the Kansas women this season is Alaina Schroeder, who was the top finisher for the Jayhawks at the 2017 Bob Timmons Classic and was an All-Midwest Region honoree last season.
“I am really excited to see what a couple of our newcomers can do in this first race,” Whittlesey said. “I am excited to see what Hannah Driscoll can do, coming over from the swimming and diving team, so we are excited to see her in her first race – ever – both in high school or college. She has been training great and has been a great addition. McKenzie Wilks is another freshman that we are running attached for the women’s side so I am really excited to see both of them run.”
The Kansas men are on the younger side this season with seven freshmen on the roster. Adding experience to the men’s team are brothers, senior Michael Melgares and redshirt-senior Chris Melgares. Michael was the top-finisher for the Jayhawks three times last season, including a first-place victory at the Rim Rock Farm Collegiate Classic. Before redshirting last season, Chris was a top-finisher in each of the four meets he competed in as a junior.
“On the men’s side right now we are running all of our freshmen unattached, we are going to see how they can add to the program,” Whittlesey said.
Four Kansas women placed in the top five at last year’s Bob Timmons Classic, while Chris Melgares won the meet last year as an unattached runner with a time of 18:39.2.
The Jayhawks’ next competition isn’t until the end of September when they compete at the Rim Rock Farm Collegiate Classic on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 9 a.m. in Lawrence.
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