By Megan Maharry
Sports Editor
The Ranger men and women’s cross-country teams competed in one of the largest cross-country festivals in the nation: the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival hosted by Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Records were set on both men and women’s sides.
The men’s team recorded five new Top 20 marks in program history and the women earned four new Top 20 times for NWOSU.
The men ran a 8k even and the women ran a 5k course.
Sophomore Garrison Blanton set a school record with a time of 26:42.8. This beat out the time previously set by Sterlin Broomfield ran in 2015.
Junior Bryce Koeing earned his spot on the men’s Top 20 times list as he recorded a time of 27:51.70 for the seventh in school history.
Freshman Noble Buckhaults made it into the record book with a time of 28:26.10 to round out the Ranger Top 10.
“I’m very proud of how the men’s team ran well as a pack,” said head coach Jill Lancaster. “Most of our men put their names in the Northwestern record book and its exciting looking to the future.”Sophomore Ben Ivory had the 15th best time in school history when he finished with a time of 28:53.90.
Tumiso Tidimane finished with a time of 29:20.40 for 20th place in school history. On the women’s side, freshman Ladasheray Bell started her running career with the seventh best time ever at NWOSU with a time of 20:57.20.
Kayla Gourley was not far behind with her time at 21:03.40 that landed her for the 10th top mark.
Jessalyn Rivet locked in the 14th spot with a time of 21:36.30.Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Rangers, Journey LeBeau scored a time of 21:58.30 for the 18th position in the Ranger Top 20.
Both men and women will next compete in the Midwestern State Invite in Wichita Falls, Texas.