By Logan Jones
Asst. Sports Editor
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University cross country teams had an historical Great America Conference Championship meet Saturday morning in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The Northwestern women finished the women’s 5K race in eighth-place, the highest GAC finish by a Ranger women’s team.
In the men’s race, the Rangers runners were only a few points away from their highest GAC finish.
Sophomore Garrison Blanton continues to make program history as he finished the men’s 8K at a time of 26:36.8, eight seconds ahead of his previous mark set during the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival earlier this season.
Blanton finished in 13th place, becoming the first ever runner from Northwestern to be named a GAC All-Conference honoree earning a Second Team spot.
Other notables from the men’s team include Bryce Koenig, who finished with a time of 27:50 for the 10th best mark for the Rangers.
Noble Buckhaults came in with the 14th best time at 28:15.
Lastly, Colton Reed rounded out scoring with 19th best time at 28:33.8.
On the women’s team, freshman Ladasheray Bell and Kayla Gourley both had solid races as Bell finished with the ninth best program mark at 20:42.4.
Gourley finished eight seconds later for the 10th top time in NWOSU history.
Bell’s time was a new PR for the young runner. Jessalyn Rivet closed the race with a personal best of 21:11.2 for the 16th mark to date for the Northwestern women.
“It was a great day to show concrete improvement in the program,” said head coach Jill Lancaster following the meet. “Our women’s team moved up one spot in the conference. The effort was noticed by several competitor coaches who acknowledged the growth of our program.”
Both men and women’s teams have a stretch before getting back on the course.
They are set to compete in the Central Region Championships on Nov. 17 in Joplin, Missouri.