CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State cross country teams will compete at the 2025 MIAA Cross Championship in Pittsburg, Kansas, at the Four Oaks Golf Course on Saturday. The women will run in the 6K at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 11 a.m.
 
WOMEN 6K INFORMATION
The Women's 6K Championship race will take place at 10 a.m. The Hillcats lineup includes Kiera Blumhof (23:38.9), Cadence Cordova (21:51.7), Emily Cruz (22:52.3), Brooklyn Garafola (21:45.9), Tehya Lang (23:30.2), Brooke Martin (23:20.9), Sisely Mitchell (22:18.4), Amy Morefield (21:36.7), Kaylee Nay (22:18.7) and Jordan Wallace (21:45.9).
 
Heading into the race, four of the 13 MIAA teams are ranked nationally by the USTFCCCA. Nebraska-Kearney leads the way at 16th, followed by host Pitt State (18th), Northwest Missouri State (23rd), Missouri Southern (24th) and Rogers State (30th). Additionally, Fort Hays State is receiving votes.
 
HISTORY FOR WOMEN'S XC AT THE MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP
RSU posted its best finish in program history last year at the conference meet in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Hillcats, spearheaded by All-MIAA performances from Katie Byrd (9^th) and Jordan Wallace (10^th), finished runner-up behind Pittsburg State, which has won the last three championship races. Before that, the Cats' best finish was fourth in both 2022 and 2023.
 
SEASON REVIEW
This season, Rogers State has been a national contender in cross country, reaching as high as No. 16 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national rankings and third in the regional ranking. The Hillcats have secured first-place finishes at the Distance After Dark (Sept. 4) and the Golden Eagle Invitational (Oct. 11), along with a third-place finish at the MSSU Southern Stampede (Sept. 20) – the site of the NCAA Division II Regional Championships.
 
Sophomore Amy Morefield, a transfer from the University of Tulsa, has made a significant impact on the team, becoming the first-ever RSU women's champion at the Distance After Dark race. She earned MIAA Athlete of the Week Honors for her showing at the Mohawk Sports Complex. The Fairfield, Texas, native also finished fourth at the MSSU Southern Stampede and won the Golden Eagle Invitational last time out.
 
Sophomore Jordan Wallace aims to become a two-time All-MIAA runner this weekend after finishing 10th in 2024. The Fort Worth, Texas, native recorded a fifth-place finish at Distance After Dark and a second-place finish at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
Junior Brooklyn Garafola, from Owasso, Oklahoma, is another athlete to watch. She achieved a personal best in the 6K at the Golden Eagle Invitational, finishing fourth with a time of 22:09.9, and placed sixth at Distance After Dark.
 
Other key runners to keep an eye on include Cadence Cordova (All-MIAA Honorable Mention), Sisely Mitchell, Kaylee Nay, Tehya Lang and Emily Cruz, as they return to the lineup after an impressive showing at last year's historic finish at the conference race.
 
MEN'S 8K INFORMATION
The men's 8K Championship race is set to start at 11 a.m. The Hillcats will have the following runners at the starting line: Lee Davis (25:58.2), Blake Feron (25:01.2), Nathaneal Gibson (24:44.1), Nathan Hernandez (27:13.8), Tanner Jenks (26:06.8), Aidan Jimenez (26:35.5), Cade McCall (25:14.9), Cohen McIntosh (25:58.2), Jack Morgan (25:54.2) and Clint Stapleton (25:52.7).
 
Heading into the race, three of the 12 MIAA teams are ranked nationally by the USTFCCCA. Northwest Missouri State leads the way at seventh, followed by host Pittsburg State (14^th) and Washburn (17^th).
 
HISTORY FOR MEN'S XC AT THE MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Hillcats are looking to improve after finishing ninth at the 2024 conference meet. Nathaneal Gibson, Tyler Colvin and Blake Feron each secured top 50 finishes in a competitive field at the MWSU Cross Country Course. RSU's highest finish at the MIAA Championship was eighth in 2019, and they won the Heartland Conference Championship in 2017.
 
SEASON REVIEW
In the 2025 campaign, the men's team has recorded three top five finishes while navigating a rebuilding phase with a young roster. The season began with a third-place finish at the Distance After Dark race on Sept. 4, followed by two fourth-place finishes at the 37th Annual Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 4 and the Golden Eagle Invitational on Oct. 11.
 
Sophomore Nathaneal Gibson has stood out as the top performer for the team this season. The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, native made history as the first male Hillcat to win the Distance After Dark race. He also secured a third-place finish at the Golden Eagle Invitational with a time of 25:26.6 in the 8K.
 
Senior Blake Feron is aiming for another strong performance at the conference meet. He opened the season with a 15th-place finish at Distance After Dark and finished 40th at the Chile Pepper Festival. Senior Nathan Hernandez and junior Cade McCall are also upperclassmen eager to make a significant impact at the conference championship.
 
Freshman Cohen McIntosh has had a solid first season at RSU, while sophomore Lee Davis and redshirt freshman Jack Morgan have also shown glimpses of potential for the Red and Navy.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hillcats will compete at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin on Nov. 8 for the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. The 2025 season will conclude at the NCAA Division II Championships on Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course.