CLAREMORE, Okla.- The Rogers State Men's Cross Country team opens its season hosting the Distance After Dark race on Thursday, Sept. 4. The Hillcats will race at 10:30 p.m. under the lights at Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa.
 
"This is a great group," said head coach Matt Kennedy, who is entering his sixth season leading the RSU Cross Country program. "The men have a great blend of returning athletes - it's their time to step up and elevate. We also have a lot of young, talented newcomers. Hopefully, they can get their legs under them sooner rather than later and find a way to contribute."
 
DISTANCE AFTER DARK INFORMATION
The annual Distance After Dark meet, sponsored by Redbud Physical Therapy, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Mohawk Sports Complex.
 
The event will showcase 287 college athletes competing in two races: the women's 5000-meter race at 10:00 p.m. and the men's four-mile race at 10:30 p.m.
 
Last year, the Hillcat men's team secured a third-place finish at the Mohawk Sports Complex, with notable performances by Nathaneal Gibson (7th place), Cade McCall (8th place) and Julius Oheim (10th place).
 
In addition to the college races, RSU will host one of the largest high school races in the state, with nearly 1,000 high school student-athletes expected to participate.
 
"The high school component is getting big," Kennedy commented. "It's grown, it's very exciting and some of the best runners in Oklahoma are going to be there. It's a great opportunity for them to see what we do, and for us and the spectators to watch some great talent."
 
High School Race Schedule:
7:45 p.m. – 2A-4A Girls – 2 Mile
8:15 p.m. – 2A-4A Boys – 5000m
8:50 p.m. – 5A-6A Girls – 5000m
9:25 p.m. – 5A-6A Boys – 5000m
 
For more information and the latest news on Distance After Dark, visit Distance After Dark - Rogers State University Athletics.
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE PREVIEW
Following Distance After Dark, the team will travel to Joplin, Missouri, for the MSSU Southern Stampede on Saturday, Sept. 20, the exact location of the NCAA Central Region Championship. The men will hit the starting line at 8:45 a.m.
 
"It's important and necessary for us to see this trip," Kennedy remarked on the MSSU Southern Stampede. "We kind of do the trip to Joplin the same way in September that we will do at the regional meet. We'll travel, stay the night, eat the same meals and stay at the same hotel. It is very much a dress rehearsal. Any guy who is healthy will more than likely run in that race."

An exciting October begins with the 37th Annual Chili Pepper Festival at the University of Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Fayetteville. The Hillcats will compete in either the McDonnell Memorial race at 10:25 a.m. or the Prairie Fire Pepper at 11:25 a.m. This marks RSU's return to the festival since 2022, where they achieved a runner-up position.
 
"If the weather cooperates, this has the potential to be the fastest course of the season," Kennedy said about the Chili Pepper Festival. "By that time, we should be in a place where we are ready to run fast and start putting the pieces together. The whole festival experience there is just remarkable, and you can lose your athletes since there is so much going on; we'll definitely have to stay focused."
 
The regular season will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 11, at both the Golden Eagle Invitational in Siloam Springs, Arkansas (time TBD), and the UAH Chargers Invitational in Huntsville, Alabama, starting at 8:00 a.m. Last season, Tyler Colvin's first-place finish at this meet helped secure the team title for the Hillcats.
 
Postseason activities will commence on Oct. 25 with the MIAA Championship taking place at Four Oaks Golf Course in Pittsburg, Kansas, at 11:00 a.m. In 2024, Rogers State finished ninth at the conference meet, with Gibson (25th) and Colvin (28th) leading the team.
 
On Nov. 8 at 11:15 a.m., the Hillcats will return to the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin for the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. Last year, the team placed 15th in the regional meet, with Gibson finishing in 45th place.
 
The 2025 season will wrap up at the NCAA Division II Championships on Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the Wayne E. Danehl National Cross Country Course, also at 11:15 a.m. Rogers State is aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championship meet for the first time on the men's side since 2017.
 
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
The Hillcats ranked ninth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 42 points. They finished ahead of Emporia State (32 points), Newman (22 points) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (12 points) in the poll that was released on Aug. 29.
 
Kennedy commented on the conference outlook, stating, "The men are at a point where the largest growth this year may not come from overall group performance. Instead, we might see several individuals shine. With the youth of the team, if they develop general maturity and attention to detail, we will benefit from that, but it might not translate into tangible results at the conference meet."
 
He further added, "They are incredibly talented. In the first two weeks, they have remained focused and have had great workouts. I like the direction we're headed, but what I hope to see most with this group is growth and maturity."
 
Defending champions Northwest Missouri State are favored to win the conference, earning 118 points and 10 first-place votes in the poll. Pittsburg State is a close second with 111 points and two first-place votes. Rounding out the top five are Nebraska-Kearney with 95 points, Washburn with 91 points, and Missouri Southern with 79 points.
 
MEET THE TEAM: RETURNERS
The Hillcats will bring back a total of 13 student-athletes from last season.
 
"There are definitely some returners from last year that you won't see coming," Kennedy stated. "I think they will make a big impact this season and shock a lot of people."
 
Nathaneal Gibson is coming off a strong 2024 campaign. The Broken Arrow native finished 25th with a personal record (PR) time of 24:44.1 in the 8K at the MIAA Championships, while also placing seventh at the Distance After Dark meet with a PR in the 4M.
 
"Nathaneal has run really well in the early going and had a pretty good summer," Kennedy said. "He's running more than he ever has, and it seems like he is really fit and focused."
 
Senior Blake Feron will aim to make an impact in his final year as a Hillcat. The former Broken Arrow Tiger recorded a pair of top 20 finishes last season at the Distance After Dark and Southern Stampede.
 
Junior Cade McCall will also aim to make an impression in his second season at Rogers State, following his PR times at the 2024 NCAA Central Region Championship and the MIAA Championship. He also collected an eighth-place finish at the Distance After Meet to open his sophomore campaign.
 
"Blake Feron and Cade McCall are also a pair to keep an eye on," Kennedy commented. "They have both looked great in the preseason, and both have had pretty good summers."
 
Redshirt freshman Jack Morgan from Elk City, Oklahoma, who battled injuries during his freshman season, has also impressed the coaching staff in the preseason and is one to watch.
 
RSU also returns seniors Ian Conder (Owasso, Okla.), Issac Conder (Owasso, Okla.), Nathan Hernandez (Guymon, Okla.) and Colton Storm (Owasso, Okla.), along with fellow upperclassman junior Solomon Higgins (Tulsa, Okla.).
 
Additionally, sophomores Lee Davis (Cookville, Texas), Aidan Jimenez (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Brian Slone (Sapulpa, Okla.) and Clint Stapleton (Oologah, Okla.) will all look to have breakout seasons for the Hillcats.
 
MEET THE TEAM: NEWCOMERS
The Hillcats will welcome eight incoming freshmen to the roster, with seven of the eight coming from in-state.
 
Karsen Hennigh comes to Rogers State from Chisholm High School in Enid, Oklahoma. A four-year letter winner for the Longhorns, he earned multiple state runner-up honors and became a regional champion in track. Hennigh consistently made the Superintendent's Honor Roll and actively participated in the student council. His PRs include 1:58.47 in the 800 meters, 4:27 in the 1,600 meters and 16:06 in the 5K. He intends to earn a degree in pre-physical therapy at RSU.
 
Tanner Jenks arrives at Hillcat Nation from Platte County High School in Platte City, Missouri. He was a three-time All-State recipient and qualified for the A+ scholarship with a 3.3 GPA. Jenks plans to earn a degree in physical therapy at RSU.
 
Tesfaye Lire attended Guymon High School in Guymon, Oklahoma, where he established a strong legacy with the Tigers. His accolades include a state championship, a school record, multiple Athlete of the Week awards and various Honor Roll distinctions. Lire plans to earn a degree in business and finance at RSU.
 
Cohen McIntosh joins Rogers State from Piedmont High School in Piedmont, Oklahoma. He was a three-time state qualifier in cross country and a two-time qualifier in track for the Wildcats. McIntosh's PRs include 16:02 in the 5K, 9:40 in the two-mile, 4:27 in the mile and 2:06 in the 800 meters. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and a valedictorian. He plans to earn a degree in sport management with a focus on sport business at RSU.
 
Riley Pauley was the 2022 OSSAA 5A Cross Country State Champion and played a pivotal role in leading the Wildcats to victory in the 2022 5A 4x800-meter relay. He earned All-State honors twice in cross country (2022 & 2024). In 2022, he received the Most Improved Runner award and in 2024, he was honored with the Cross Country Leadership Award. Additionally, he became the 2025 6A regional champion in the 800-meter run in track and field. His personal best times include 15:47 in the 5K, 15:04 in the three-mile, 4:24 in the mile, 1:56 in the 800 meters and 51.9 seconds in the 400 meters. Pauley was also the valedictorian at Piedmont High School and plans to pursue a degree in business administration at RSU.
 
Sam Russell joins RSU from Moore High School in Moore, Oklahoma. He received several Lionheart athletic awards and achieved a commendable GPA of 3.2. Russell plans to earn a degree in business at RSU.
 
Adam Sium comes to RSU from Guymon High School, where he was a four-time All-State recipient. He played a key role in helping the Tigers win a team state runner-up finish in 2023 and a third-place finish in 2024. He also collected an individual state runner-up finish. Sium intends to earn a degree in business at RSU.
 
Jaxson Wheeler joins the cross country team from Moore High School in Moore, Oklahoma. He earned various athletic and regional medals, as well as a state medal and is recognized on the Lions school record board. Wheeler received a certificate of distinction and maintained a GPA of 3.75. He plans to earn a degree in cybersecurity at RSU.
 
FINAL WORDS FROM COACH KENNEDY
"I am very excited for the 2025 cross country season," Kennedy commented. "I like our energy and want us to be good when it matters. Regardless of how the regular season unfolds and the various pieces we put together, our ultimate goal is very simple: to help the team win. This can take many forms, whether it's waiting for others to complete their reps, helping with laundry, filling water bottles or anything else that contributes to our success. I want our team to embody that spirit. Specifically, our aim is to qualify for the national meet."