WINFIELD, Kan. — The Southwestern College men's cross country team will return to competition Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Blazing Tiger Classic, a nonconference meet at Mahony State Park in Ashland, Nebraska.
The Builders enter the meet looking to build on their performances at the NCCC Invitational on Oct. 17 in Chanute, Kansas, where they finished fourth in the men's 8-kilometer race with 87 points.
Freshman LeDaniel Harrison led Southwestern at the NCCC Invitational, finishing 12th overall with a time of 28 minutes, 38.1 seconds. Junior Derek Ponce-Gonzales followed in 19th place with a time of 30:40.0, while freshman Isaiah Jones finished 22nd in 31:19.8.
Joshua Wessel and Jacob Salas rounded out the Builders' scoring runners, finishing 35th and 39th, respectively. Wessel completed the course in 34:10.4, while Salas crossed the finish line in 34:37.0.
Southwestern's strength lies in its developing group of young runners, with four freshmen among its five finishers at the NCCC Invitational. Harrison has demonstrated the ability to set the pace for the Builders, while Ponce-Gonzales provides experience in the middle of the lineup. Continued improvement from Jones, Wessel and Salas will be important as Southwestern looks to reduce the time gaps between its scoring runners.
The Builders will face a competitive field featuring programs with established distance-running success. Southern Oregon, Dordt and the University of Saint Mary are among the nationally ranked men's programs expected to compete, providing Southwestern with an opportunity to measure its progress against strong NAIA competition.
Southern Oregon enters as one of the highest-ranked programs in the field, while Dordt and Saint Mary also bring nationally recognized men's teams. Their presence should create a fast-paced race and provide valuable competition for the Builders.
For Southwestern, maintaining a controlled pace through the opening kilometers and staying connected as a group will be important. The Builders will look to improve their positioning throughout the race while focusing on consistent splits and strong finishes.
Saturday's meet will also provide another opportunity for Southwestern to evaluate its progress before the KCAC Cross Country Championships on Nov. 7. With the postseason approaching, the Builders will aim to establish momentum and continue developing consistency across their lineup.
