CLAREMORE, Okla.- The Rogers State Women's Cross Country team is set to begin its season with the Distance After Dark race on Thursday, Sept. 4. RSU will take the course at 10:00 p.m. under the lights at Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa.
 
"This is a good group that has the pieces to do something special," said head coach Matt Kennedy, who is entering his sixth season as the head coach of the RSU Cross Country program. "They return a lot of experience and depth from last season."
 
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 from 11 schools 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.
 
RSU won the meet last season, with Sisely Mitchell setting the pace for the team by finishing in fourth place. She was followed closely by Jordan Wallace, Rayna Kucharyski and Kaylee Nay, who finished in fifth, sixth and seventh places, respectively. Katie Byrd took twelfth place, ensuring that all five of the Hillcats' scoring runners were among the top 15. Cadence Cordova and Emily Cruz rounded out the team's top seven, finishing in 16^th and 22^nd places.
 
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 from 45 schools 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.
 
REGIONALLY RANKED TO OPEN THE SEASON
 
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its NCAA Division II regional rankings on Sept. 2, and the Hillcats were picked fifth in the central region.
 
RSU made history by finishing fifth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Central Region Championship, earning its first-ever spot in the NCAA Championships.
 
Augustana University (S.D.) is expected to lead the region again this season, having finished last year's regional meet with a substantial advantage of nearly 30 points. Pittsburg State University (Kan.), Winona State University (Minn.) and the University of Mary (N.D.) round out the top five teams.
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE PREVIEW
Rogers State will travel to Joplin, Missouri, for the MSSU Southern Stampede on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 8:00 a.m. Last season, Wallace (9th) and Cordova (10th) were instrumental in the Hillcats' success, helping secure their second first-place finish in 2024.
 
"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. Depending on how we are looking and who is running at a high level, that could be a split-squad situation for the women."
 
An exciting October will kick off with the 37th Annual Chili Peter Festival, hosted by the University of Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Fayetteville. The Hillcats will participate in either the Harter's Habanero race at 11:00 a.m. or the Prairie Fire Pepper race at 12:10 p.m. This will be RSU's first appearance at the festival since 2022, when they achieved a fourth-place finish.
 
"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 wrap up on Saturday, Oct. 11, with competitions at the Golden Eagle Invitational in Siloam Springs, Arkansas (time TBA), and the UAH Chargers Invitational in Huntsville, Alabama, starting at 8:50 a.m. RSU won the Golden Eagle Invitational last season, with Byrd (4th), Cordova (8th) and Kucharyski (10th) finishing in the top 10.
 
Postseason action kicks off on Oct. 25 with the MIAA Championship at the Four Oaks Golf Course in Pittsburg, Kansas, starting at 10:00 a.m. The Hillcats aim for a strong performance, hoping to replicate their runner-up finish from last season. Both Byrd (9th) and Wallace (10th) received All-MIAA honors, and Cordova and Kucharyski were also recognized as All-MIAA Honorable Mention recipients.
 
On Nov. 8, the Hillcats will return to the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin for the NCAA Central Region Championship at 10:00 a.m. They qualified for nationals last season with a fifth-place finish, the best in program history, thanks to All-Region performances from Byrd (10th) and Wallace (22nd).
 
The 2025 season will culminate at the NCAA Division II Championship on November 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the Wayne E. Danehl National Cross County Course, starting at 10:00 a.m. Last year marked RSU's inaugural appearance at the NCAA Championship meet, where they finished 22nd with 554 points in the 6K race.
 
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
The Hillcats reached their highest ranking to date in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, securing second place with 124 points and garnering three first-place votes following an impressive 2024 season.
 
"The conference is really good on the women's side," Kennedy commented on the MIAA. "The teams that we are going to compete against have added some key pieces in the offseason, whether it be really good high school girls or transfers that have ended up at conference schools. We will have to battle to be near the top."
 
The defending three-time champions, Pittsburg State, are predicted to win the conference with 138 points and eight first-place votes. Fort Hays State secured third place with 111 points, while Nebraska-Kearney and Northwest are tied for fourth, each earning 108 points.
 
MEET THE TEAM: RETURNERS
The Hillcats will welcome back a total of 18 student-athletes from last season.
 
Jordan Wallace surpassed all expectations during her freshman season at RSU. Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, she received All-MIAA honors after finishing in 10th place at the MIAA Championships. At the following meet, she achieved a personal record (PR) in the 6K with a time of 21:45.9 at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships, finishing 22nd and earning an All-Central Region nod. Also, she was part of the NCAA Championship team and secured a fifth-place finish at the Distance After Dark meet.
 
"Jordan had a great cross country season and then had a fantastic first indoor meet in December, where she ran 17.15 – just four seconds off the school record," Kennedy remarked on the talented sophomore. "She'll be back with the group after dealing with some injuries at the end of last year."
 
Rayna Kucharyski is coming off a strong sophomore season with the Hillcats, which included two top 10 finishes and an All-MIAA Honorable Mention showing at the MIAA Championships. The Owasso native opened the season with a PR of 17:51.6 in the 5K at Distance After Dark. She concluded the season with another PR of 22:08.5 at the NCAA Central Region Championship race, securing her spot on the NCAA Championship team.

Rayna is a rock, "Kennedy commented. "It doesn't always go well for her all of the time, but in October and November, she will show up. In the big moments and the big races, she will find a way."
 
Cadence Cordova will represent the Red and Navy one last time in 2025. The Owasso native achieved two top 10 finishes in 2024, with her best performance being an eighth-place finish at the Griffon Invite in the 5K. She earned an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection after finishing 16th in the 6K with a time of 22:12, and she also set a PR in the same event at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. Additionally, she was a member of the first-ever NCAA Championship team.
 
"Cadence was fantastic in the outdoor track season, where she set the school record in the 5K and hit a provisional mark in 1500m," Kennedy said. "She is aggressively coming back from an interruption of training, but she is working her tail off and will be ready."
 
Kaylee Nay (La Grange, Ky.) and Sisely Mitchell (Platte City, Mo.) also return to the team after making the national roster in 2024. The sophomore duo both collected top five finishes at the Distance After Dark meet and were top 30 performers at the MIAA Championship.
 
Junior Brooklyn Garafola (Owasso, Okla.) and sophomore Emily Cruz (Stilwell, Okla.) aim to contribute to the team's scoring after an excellent summer and a strong preseason.
 
Also returning to the Hill in 2025 is Ryann Barber (Tulsa, Okla.), Kiera Blumhof (Yukon, Okla.), Isabel Bush (Carnegie, Okla.), Ann-Marie Dorsey (Bixby, Okla.), Kenzie Gilliam (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Britt Hunter (Owasso, Okla.), Tehya Lang (Gainesville, Texas), Audrey McElhaney (Lawton, Okla.), Leyla Saldana (Anadarko, Okla.), Sarah Swofford (Owasso, Okla.) and Faith Tinney (Owasso, Okla.).
 
MEET THE TEAM: NEWCOMERS
The Hillcats will welcome six incoming freshmen and one transfer to the roster.
 
Amy Morefield is the sole transfer for the Hillcats. A native of Fairview, Texas, she spent her first two seasons at the University of Tulsa, where she participated in two cross country meets for the Golden Hurricane. Additionally, she competed in distance and relay events on the TU track and field team.
 
"Amy has been so wonderful and has fit in well since joining the team," Kennedy commented on the transfer. "She's extremely talented with some experience at the D1 level. She will benefit from the team, and the team will benefit from her as well."
 
Brooke Martin, an incoming freshman from Wichita, Kansas, is a standout athlete to watch. She previously excelled at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, where she had a remarkable career in both cross country and track and field. During her time there, she earned seven all-state honors, was named to the first team all-metro twice and became the two-time league champion in the 3200 meters for the Eagles. Martin holds PRs of 18:30 in the 5K, 11:38 in the 3200 meters, 2:22 in the 800 meters and 5:24 in the 1600 meters. She plans to earn a degree in biology at RSU.
 
"Brooke didn't particularly have the outdoor season that she wanted last year, but it's obvious that she had a great summer and looks good so far," Kennedy commented on Martin's impact early on.
 
Reese Coleman joins our team from Watonga High School in Watonga, Oklahoma. She is the 2024 Class 2A Cross Country State Champion and has earned All-State honors in Cross Country three times. Additionally, Coleman secured third place in the Team 2A Cross Country Championships in both 2021 and 2024. She is also a four-time Track State Qualifier for the Eagles and was named Valedictorian of Distinction. Reece plans to earn a degree in medical and molecular biology at RSU.
 
Brielle Coons is joining the Hill from Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma. At Edmond Santa Fe, Coons was recognized as an AP Scholar, served as a "Leader of the Pack" and was a varsity captain for the Bulldogs. Her PRs include a time of 20:02 in the 5K and 5:42 in the 1600m. She plans to earn a degree in Marketing at RSU.
 
Kylea Hatfield joins RSU from Hallsville High School in Hallsville, Texas. At Hallsville, Hatfield was a three-time state qualifier and earned the title of varsity MVP for the Bobcats. Her PRs include 5:15 in the 1600m, 11:41 in the 3200m and 19:07 in the 5k. She plans to earn a degree in biology at RSU.
 
Kendall Howell comes to Claremore from Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma. She was a standout for the Mustangs on both the cross country course and on the track.
 
Stella Jones is joining the team from Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. She was an OSSAA 6A State Champion in cross country and also part of the Rams' 4x800 relay team state championship team. In addition, she was a member of the National Honor Society and plans to earn a degree in health science 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."