CLAREMORE, Okla. – No. 19 Rogers State Women's Cross Country is set to begin its 2026 season by hosting the Distance After Dark race on Thursday, Sept. 3. The event will kick off at 10:00 p.m. at the Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa under the lights.
 
DISTANCE AFTER DARK INFORMATION
The annual Distance After Dark meet, presented by Armstrong Bank, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Mohawk Sports Complex.
 
"This year will feature the biggest Distance After Dark to date, and we are very excited," commented head coach Matt Kennedy. "The high school races will feature rematches from last year that will be exciting, and the college race will also be more competitive than it has been before with the addition of Tulsa and Pittsburg State to the field. It will be a lot of fun from start to finish."
 
MEET INFORMATION | RACE NOTES
 
This year's event has drawn a record 1,664 entries from high schools and colleges, an increase of more than 400 participants from last year. All six defending team champions, along with runner-up programs, will compete, and 38 athletes who finished in the top 10 of their respective races last year will also participate. A total of 73 high schools and colleges are involved.
 
The college races will feature 438 entries from 19 programs, including current and former athletes from Rogers State, as well as unattached competitors.
 
The women's 5,000-meter race is scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m. For the first time, NCAA Division I's University of Tulsa and defending MIAA Champion Pittsburg State will join the competition.
 
Rogers State is aiming for its fifth consecutive title at the Mohawk Sports Complex. In 2025, the Hillcats secured the team championship with a total score of 24, outpacing Oklahoma Baptist (82), Oklahoma City (129), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (148).
 
Last year, Amy Morefield had an impressive debut for the Red and Navy, becoming the first Hillcat to win the women's 5K with a time of 17:35.7. She went on to have one of the most remarkable individual seasons in program history.
 
In addition, returner Brooklyn Garafola closely followed in sixth place with a time of 17:56.6, while Kaylee Nay rounded out the top 10 for Rogers State, finishing ninth in 18:09.1. Emily Cruz achieved a personal best of 18:19.4, finishing in 11th place.
 
The Hillcats also welcomed several former athletes back to the alumni team, with Brianna Stinnett leading in eighth place. Ashley Riggenbach placed 25th, and Madison Bradshaw finished 74th.
 
In addition to the college races, Distance After Dark will host one of the state's largest high school races, featuring 1,664 participants—894 males and 770 females—from 54 schools.
 
The action begins at 7:45 p.m. with the 2A-4A girls in a 2-mile race, followed by the 2A-4A boys at 8:15 p.m. in the 5,000 meters. The 5A-6A girls will race at 8:50 p.m., concluding with the 5A-6A boys at 9:25 p.m.

For more information and the latest news on Distance After Dark, visit Distance After Dark - Rogers State University Athletics.
 
PRESEASON REPORT
The 2026 women's cross country team has a roster of 26 athletes, including 19 returnees and seven newcomers—four freshmen and three transfers.
 
Training on campus for the fall began Aug. 13. The Hillcats return a star-studded roster and have added key transfers expected to make an immediate impact for the Red and Navy.
 
"The women have looked really good," Kennedy said of the team in the preseason. "There are a lot of returners and familiar faces—people who have been in the program, know what's expected of them, and had a great summer. They have shown up and looked pretty good. It's encouraging right off the bat."
 
Additionally, the Hillcats were ranked third in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Regional Rankings and No. 19 in the USTFCCCA Preseason National Poll. Their third-place ranking makes them the second-highest ranked team from the MIAA, and their national ranking extends their streak of being ranked to 16 straight weeks – tying Kennedy's previous personal record set at Oklahoma Baptist.
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE PREVIEW
**SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
 
After Distance After Dark, Rogers State will next compete at the MSSU Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri, on Saturday, Sept. 19. The race is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Last year, the Hillcats, running a split squad, finished a commendable third out of 22 teams. Leading the team was Morefield with a fourth-place finish, followed by Garafola in 14th, Emily Cruz in 15th, Brooke Martin in 28th, and Kiera Blumhof in 52nd.
 
For the first time in program history, Rogers State will participate in the Augustana Invitational on Sept. 25 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The NCAA Central Region Championship will take place at Yankton Trail Park on Nov. 21. In the previous season's NCAA Central Region Championships in Joplin, RSU secured a sixth-place finish among 35 teams with a score of 168, just missing the cut for the NCAA National Championships. However, Morefield qualified for the national championship race with a fifth-place finish and a school-record time of 21:08.27. Morefield, along with Nay (18th) and Garafola (19th), received all-region honors.
 
The Hillcats will return to the University of Arkansas for the 38th Annual Chili Pepper Festival on Oct. 3, marking their first visit since 2022. Start times for the event will be announced later.
 
A week later, the team will either compete in the John Brown Invitational in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, on Oct. 10 or in the "Pre-Nationals" race in Lawrence, Kansas, on Oct. 11. Last season, at the Golden Eagle Invite at Pollards Field in Siloam Springs, the Hillcats claimed the team title, with Morefield taking the individual title in the 6K. Wallace finished second, Garafola took fourth, Nay placed fifth, and Cruz rounded out the top 10.
 
The regular season will conclude at the UAH Chargers XC Invitational D2 Festival Year Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, on Oct. 24, with Rogers State returning to John Hunt Park for the first time since 2022.
 
The MIAA Championship will return to the MWSU Cross Country Course in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Nov. 7. The championship was previously held at this venue in 2024. Last year, the Hillcats secured a runner-up finish at the MIAA Championships in Pittsburg, tallying 56 points—just one point behind host Pittsburg State. Morefield tied the school record for the highest individual finish in program history, placing fourth in the women's 6K and earning All-MIAA First Team honors. Nay also made the First Team, finishing 10th, while Garafola (11th), Cruz (15th), and Wallace (16th) received All-MIAA Honorable Mention.
 
Following the regional meet in Sioux Falls on Nov. 21, the 2026 season will conclude at the NCAA Division II Championships on Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas. Rogers State aims to return as a team for the first time since 2024. In 2025, Morefield represented the Hillcats as an individual at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship in Kenosha, Wisconsin, finishing 215th out of 263 runners.

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
The Rogers State Hillcats are projected to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, replicating their ranking from last season, which is tied for the program best. RSU earned 128 points and secured three first-place votes, trailing behind the Pittsburg State Gorillas.
 
On the MIAA, Kennedy said, "I think Pittsburg State is really good, and I think we have the potential to be really good. Missouri Southern is really good. If you look at the stats from the outdoor track season, Missouri Southern ran laps around us. They were really strong on the track. So, Missouri Southern is tough.
 
Nebraska Kearney is also really good. Beating them will be a challenge. We're in good company with strong teams. Northwest Missouri, despite having a new coach, will be right there. They beat us at the regional meet last year. We beat them at conference, but they had the upper hand at the regional.
 
I've just rattled off five schools that I think are legitimate contenders. Without knowing exactly what everybody else has, you can never sleep on Washburn or Central Missouri. You just never know. The conference is loaded and deep, and you've got to be good, or you'll end up fifth."
 
In the MIAA championships, Rogers State achieved a second-place finish for the second consecutive year, scoring 56 points, just one point behind host Pittsburg State. Nebraska Kearney finished third with 71 points, followed by Northwest Missouri State with 102 points and Missouri Southern with 114 points. Notably, all five scorers for the women's team received All-MIAA honors for the first time in program history.
 
Defending MIAA champion Pittsburg State is favored to win the conference, collecting 138 points and seven first-place votes. Nebraska Kearney is ranked third with 116 points, while Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri complete the top five with 107 and 103 points, respectively.
 
Pittsburg State and Nebraska Kearney secured automatic berths in the women's national championship meet after finishing in the top three at the Central Region Championship, with Pittsburg State placing as the runner-up and Nebraska Kearney taking third.
 
In addition to the team qualifiers, four individuals from the MIAA competed at the national championships: Morefield, Emily Diercks-McCullough of Fort Hays State, Olivia Bakker of Northwest Missouri, and Kyla Lochtefeld of Washburn.
 
Rogers State narrowly missed qualifying as a team with a sixth-place finish.
 
MEET HEAD COACH MATT KENNEDY
Kennedy completed his sixth season at Rogers State in 2025–26.
 
Last year, Kennedy guided the Hillcats to a strong showing in the 2025 campaign. The women's team finished as the runner-up at the MIAA Championship for the second consecutive season and reached a program-best No. 16 in the USTFCCCA national poll. The men's team also excelled, finishing 11th at the Central Region Championship, their best finish since 2017, and eighth at the MIAA Championships.
 
In 2024, Kennedy led the Hillcat women's cross country team to a historic top-5 finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships and the program's first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He was named MIAA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding the team to a runner-up finish at the conference meet.

Since his arrival, RSU has become the most improved women's cross country teams in Division II, climbing from a 30th-place regional finish in 2019 (prior to Kennedy's tenure) to 16^th in the nation in 2025.

Kennedy has now qualified two separate programs from Oklahoma and the Central Region to the NCAA Championships. At Oklahoma Baptist, he led the Bison women to back-to-back national appearances in 2017 and 2018, won four Great American Conference titles, and was named GAC Coach of the Year four times. His teams spent 20 consecutive weeks in the national rankings, peaking at No. 11, and consistently finished among the region's top five.

Kennedy's coaching career spans nearly two decades and includes prior stops at Oklahoma Baptist, Friends University, and Midwestern State.

He holds a B.S. from Midwestern State University and a Master's in Education from East Central University.
 
MEET THE TEAM: RETURNERS
The Hillcats return 19 student-athletes for the 2026 season.
 
Morefield had an outstanding inaugural season with the Hillcats, making history in Hillcat cross country as she competed individually at the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Fairview, Texas, native set a new RSU women's 6K school record with a time of 21:08.27 and achieved the highest-ever finish for a Hillcat at the NCAA Central Region Championships, placing fifth. Additionally, she tied for the best individual finish at the MIAA Championships, securing fourth place. Morefield's accomplishments earned her recognition as an all-region runner by the NCAA and USTFCCCA and a selection to the All-MIAA First Team, and she was named MIAA Athlete of the Week, becoming just the second Hillcat to receive this honor.
 
"Amy is exceptionally talented," Kennedy remarked about Morefield. "She returns as a top-five regional finisher and individual national qualifier. She led our team at the conference meet, had a really strong indoor season and we are excited to have her back after she missed the outdoor season."
 
Nay also had a notable season in 2025, earning All-Region honors for the first time in her career at the NCAA Central Region Championships after finishing 18th with a personal best of 21:41.34 in the women's 6K. The La Grange, Kentucky, native was recognized on the All-MIAA First Team after placing 10th at the conference championships. Nay also finished ninth at Distance After Dark and fifth at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
"Kaylee is exceptionally tough," Kennedy said about Nay. "She is really good on grass. She knows it, she owns it. She's confident, and with what she did on the track and in the outdoor season, showing that she was better, look out because she's going to be really good this fall."
 
Garafola shined in her third season on the Hill, securing her first all-region honors by the NCAA and USTFCCCA after crossing the finish line in 19th place with a personal best of 21:42.29 at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. The Owasso native also received All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition after finishing 11th at the MIAA Championships. Garafola set a personal best in the 5K at Distance After Dark with a time of 17:56.6 to finish sixth, while also finishing 14^th at the Southern Stampede and fourth at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
"Brooklyn's stats speak for themselves," Kennedy said of Garafola. "She went ballistic in outdoor track, setting the school record at Azusa. Last year, she ran coast to coast, and both she and Kaylee competed in Boston on the East Coast and ran phenomenal times on the West Coast. But that 17:08 from Brooklyn is next level. With her returning, she has big goals for this year. She will be as good as she wants to be."
 
Cruz returns to the team after a solid showing last season. The Stillwell native appeared in five races for the Hillcats, where she secured four top-20 finishes. She opened the season with an 11^th-place finish at Distance After Dark, followed by a 15^th-place finish at the Southern Stampede, where she notched a personal best performance in the 5K with a time of 18:11.5 to finish 15^th. Cruz also finished 10^th at the Golden Eagle Invitational and secured an All-MIAA Honorable Mention 15^th-place finish at the MIAA Championships with a personal best time of 22:17.86. Her season wrapped up with a 59^th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.
 
Brooke Martin had a successful freshman season for the Hillcats in 2025. The Wichita, Kansas, native made an immediate impact with a 23rd-place finish at the Distance After Dark. She set a personal-best 18:41.0 in the 5K at the Southern Stampede, finishing 28th. Martin also finished 14th at the Golden Eagle Invitational, placed 52nd at the MIAA Championships, and capped the year with a 94th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships, recording a personal-best time of 23:00.1 in the 6K.
 
Sisely Mitchell delivered another strong season for the Red and Navy in 2025. The Platte City, Missouri, native opened the season with a 27th-place finish at Distance After Dark, followed by a 15th-place finish at the Golden Eagle Invitational. Mitchell also placed 59th at the MIAA Championships.
 
Ryann Barber will compete in her senior season in 2025. The Tulsa native and Jenks High School product participated in three races, where she notched a 40th-place finish at Distance After Dark, a 72nd-place finish at the Southern Stampede (PR of 19:52.7 in the 5K), and a 22nd-place finish at the Golden Eagle Invitational (PR of 24:06.7 in the 6K).
 
Blumhof returns for her junior season following a strong outing last year. The Yukon native ran in four races, beginning with a 35th-place finish in the 5K at Distance After Dark. She finished 52nd at the Southern Stampede, secured a 17th-place finish at the Golden Eagle with a PR of 23:38.9 in the 6K, and concluded the season with a 91st-place finish at the MIAA Championships.
 
Isabel Bush will also compete in her senior season in 2026. The Carnegie native only competed at Distance After Dark, where she finished 63rd.
 
Reese Coleman from Watonga returns for her second year and will make her cross country debut for the Red and Navy in 2026.
 
Brielle Coons competed in three races during her first season at RSU in 2025. The Edmond native finished 41st at Distance After Dark, 115th at the Southern Stampede, and 24th at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
Kenzie Gilliam is back for her junior campaign on the Hill. The Broken Arrow native participated in three races in 2025, finishing 44th at Distance After Dark, 84th at the Southern Stampede (PR in the 5K with a time of 20:13.1), and 31st at the Golden Eagle Invitational (PR in the 6K with a time of 25:09.1).
 
Kendall Howell, a Mustang native, will make her cross-country debut in 2026. She recorded a pair of top-20 finishes during the outdoor track and field season last spring.
 
Junior Britt Hunter returns to the Hill after competing in three races in 2025. The Owasso native finished 67th at Distance After Dark, 123rd at the Southern Stampede, and established a new PR in the 6K at the Golden Eagle Invitational with a time of 25:40.4, finishing 35th.
 
Stella Jones competed in three races during her first season on the Hill in 2025. The Owasso native opened her career with a PR of 20:13.1 in the 5K, finishing 43rd. She also finished 130th at the Southern Stampede and 43rd at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
Tehya Lang enters her junior campaign this season. The Gainesville, Texas, native competed in four races, beginning with a 37th-place finish at Distance After Dark. She finished 56th at the Southern Stampede, 16th at the Golden Eagle Invitational (PR in the 6K with a time of 23:30.2), and 81st at the MIAA Championships.
 
Audrey McElhaney will make her cross country debut in 2026. The Lawton native collected three top-10 finishes during the outdoor track season last spring.
 
Leyla Saldana returns for her sophomore season in Claremore. The Anadarko native ran in two races last season, finishing 61st at Distance After Dark and recording a personal best in the 5K with a time of 20:57.7 at the Southern Stampede, where she placed 127th.
 
Sarah Swofford enters her junior season on the Hill in 2025. The Owasso native finished 54th at Distance After Dark, 145th at the Southern Stampede, and concluded the year at the Golden Eagle Invitational, where she recorded a PR in the 6K with a time of 25:33.1, finishing 34th.
 
MEET THE TEAM: NEWCOMERS
The Hillcats will welcome seven newcomers, comprised of three transfers and four freshmen.
 
Junior Amaya Grant joins the program after a successful career at Arkansas Tech. The Cushing native competed in five races for the Golden Suns in 2025, achieving two top-10 finishes. She earned All-GAC honors after setting a personal best in the 5K at the conference race, finishing seventh. Grant also established a new personal best in the 6K at the NCAA Division II Central Regional, recording a time of 22:24.1, which resulted in a 54th-place finish.
 
"Amaya Grant was a girl I was very interested in recruiting out of high school from Cushing. She went to Arkansas Tech, and now we have her, Kennedy remarked on Grant. "She ended her track season running really well, with a time of 17:49 at the Harding Last Chance meet. I think she was the only girl to finish that race, and she ran a solid time on her own. That's hard to do at a meet. She was Arkansas Tech's number one and outperformed some of our athletes at the regional meet."
 
Fellow junior Bianca Scott comes to the Hill from Stanislaus State. The Madera, California, native competed in three races during the 2025 season, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at the 44th Annual UCR XC Invite, where she achieved a personal best in the 5K with a time of 17:58.5. She also set a new personal record in the 6K with a time of 22:35.9 at the Kim Duyst Twilight XC Invitational.
 
"Bianca Scott comes from a strong program, and we expect her to be a contributor," Kennedy remarked about the junior. "Her best race of the season last year was 17:44 in the 5K at Azusa Pacific, where she competed alongside Brooke Martin and Sisely Mitchell, beating them both. She had a really good track season. While her cross country stats may not be as strong, her track performance indicates there's potential. In the past week, she has started to acclimate to her move from California to Oklahoma. Now she's settling in, attending classes like the other girls, and getting into a routine. We've seen some developments this week that make me especially excited about her potential."
 
Darcy Vineyard is set to begin her junior season after an impressive career at UA-Rich Mountain Community College. She was named the 2024 Region 2 XC Individual Champion and earned a place on the All-Region Team. She also earned the title of 2024 USTFCCCA West Region Female Athlete of the Year and is a two-time NJCAA XC All-American (2024, 2025). Vineyard also broke school records in the 5K (18:45.27) and the 6K (22:30.5).
 
"Darcy is a Claremore kid who had a great career at UA-Rich Mountain Community College," Kennedy said about Vineyard. "She has a time of 22:30 for the 6K on her TFFRs, which is solid and will be beneficial to us. She has had great workouts, and while it's a long season, I believe that by November we'll have her performing at her best."
 
Also joining the program are Claremore natives Sophia Fernandez and Chloe Grubbs, along with Abigail Harding from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Erin Hendrick from Owasso.
 
FINAL WORDS FROM COACH KENNEDY
"I mean, we put four in the top 20. You start thinking, 'Okay, we can be in the top three.' But other teams are good, and we've got to stay healthy. It's hard to make nationals; a lot has to go right. They will control a lot of that. The championship behavior component is what will separate our team from many. If they will sell out and buy into practicing those things that are important outside of practice, they can be as good as they want to be."