Meet Preview: Bob Timmons Classic

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams begin their 2019 season on Saturday, August 31 at the Bob Timmons Classic at Rim Rock Farm. The Jayhawks will welcome Kansas City, Oral Roberts and Wichita State to their home course to compete the men’s 6K race starting at 9 a.m., while the women are scheduled to follow with their 5K at 10 a.m.

After two weeks of practice in which the teams have gelled quite well, “excited” is a word heard repeatedly when speaking with the Jayhawk coaches about the 2019 cross country season and the groups of runners Kansas will put out on the courses. This first, smaller meet, will provide an opportunity for athletes to challenge not only themselves, but their teammates and competitors from the other schools as well.

"We returned everyone in good health and shape, but we know we still have a ways to go to get where we want to be by the end of the season."

Michael Whittlesey, Ph.D. // Kansas Assistant Coach - Distance/Middle Distance

Strong leaders already emerging on both the men’s and women’s teams have the coaches enthusiastic for the season and they are eager to get the individual runners working together in a team-concept race. With the newcomers blending in well amongst the returners in preparation for the season ahead, the staff is looking forward to seeing what will transpire at this weekend’s competition.

MEET INFORMATION

Date/Time August 31 at 9 a.m. (Men's 6K) and 10 a.m. (Women's 5K)
Opponents Kansas City, Oral Roberts and Wichita State
Location Rim Rock Farm

KANSAS WOMEN

  • This fall, the Kansas women return four of their top-seven runners from the 2018 season.
  • Last season, the Jayhawks claimed seven spots among the top-10 finishers, including the top six, at the Bob Timmons Classic with Catherine Liggett earning the individual title with a time of 18:44.0. Other KU runners traversed their home course to cross the finish line in second through sixth places, in addition to 10th place.
  • The KU women’s team continued its winning tradition in the Bob Timmons Classic, claiming the meet title for the seventh-straight time in 2018.
  • With the loss of cross country and track & field distance phenomenon Sharon Lokedi to graduation, the Kansas women have some big shoes to fill on the course and track this season, but the coaches are confident that they will still produce a strong team in 2019.
  • Younger student-athletes may be able to take on some immediate responsibilities in filling that role, as the Jayhawks have seven first-year competitors donning the Crimson and Blue in 2019.

KANSAS MEN

  • For the men, Kansas has experience and success on its side, returning five of its top-seven runners from a season ago.
  • Five KU runners were among the top-10 out of a field of 30 total competitors at last season’s Bob Timmons Classic. Jayhawks finished in places one, two, four, five and seven. Chace Hale was crowned the men’s individual champion, running the 6K at Rim Rock Farm in 19:25.3.
  • The Kansas men won the Bob Timmons Classic for the third-straight season last fall.
  • Senior Dylan Hodgson will be looked upon to lead a strong contingency of returning runners on the men’s side. Hodgson has been among the team’s top-three finishers consistently since his freshman year for Kansas.
  • For the athletes not running at Rim Rock Farm this weekend, it gives them another month to continue training hard in preparation for their own return to competition later this season.