Sep 15, 2021

Wildcats Kick Off 2021 Season with Cowboy Jamboree

Posted Sep 15, 2021 6:34 PM
Wildcats Kick Off 2021 Season with Cowboy Jamboree
Wildcats Kick Off 2021 Season with Cowboy Jamboree

MANHATTAN, Kan. â€“ The Kansas State men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to action on Saturday (September 18) with Oklahoma State’s Cowboy Jamboree at the OSU Cross Country Course.

The Wildcats will compete at two additional meets – Gans Greek Classic (October 1) and Pre-National Invitational (October 15) – before heading to the Big 12 Championships on October 29.

The men’s 8K will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m., CT, with the women’s 6K to follow at 9:15 a.m., CT.

“We have had a solid three weeks and are looking forward to our first meet this Saturday,” said eighth-year head coach Ryun Godfrey.

This year’s roster consists of eight seniors, 13 juniors, seven sophomores and five freshmen. Travis Hodge and Noah Stevenson return to the Wildcats for a fifth year.

The women’s team will be led by junior standout Jaybe Shufelberger, who will run for the first time since competing at the 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma on March 15 for the first time in her career. Shufelberger was the only K-State representative and placed 157th overall out of more than 400 runners with a time of 21:54.5 in the 6k.

K-State is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, as both Wildcat teams finished in the Top 5 at the Big 12 Championships for the first time since 1998. The women’s team concluded the 2020 event in fifth place with 134 points and the men clinched fourth place with 103 points. Manhattan native Cooper Schroeder led the way in the men’s 8k with a school record time of 23:54.6, earning 15th-overall. Shufelberger placed ninth after clocking in a time of 21:22.6 in the women’s 6k, marking her best performance at the conference meet.

At the conclusion of the 2020 season, 19 Wildcats found themselves in the Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country teams, nine of which having 4.0 GPAs. Those receiving First Team honors included Hodge, Cayli HumeKassidy JohnsonCara MelgaresKerby DepenbuschMike Rohlinger, Schroeder, Jack MooreHadley SpletcherJack ThomasSydney BurtonHelen GeiferDelaney KempEmma Lucas, Shufelberger, Cailan StewardHannah StewartDylan Brenneman and David Lutgen.

To follow along with the races on Saturday, live results will be made available by Athletics Live.

Results will be made available on www.kstatesports.com and K-State Track & Field and Cross Country social media accounts following the conclusion of Saturday’s races.

For the latest on K-State Cross Country follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.