By DACODA MCDOWELL-WAHPEKECHE, Sports Editor
WEATHERFORD — Northwestern’s cross-country teams ran their final races of the year at the Great American Conference Championship race in Weatherford, Oklahoma on Feb. 27.
The men’s team, led by sophomore Timothy Jacobson, placed fifth out of six teams with a team score of 154 points.
On the women’s side, the team took last place with a team score of 311 points.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams ran the same course on Jan. 29 when Southwestern Oklahoma State University hosted the Great American Conference Preview.
Jacobson ran a personal best time at 29 minutes, 33 seconds. Prior to Saturday’s race, his best time was 30 minutes, six seconds, which was completed at Fort Hays State University’s cross-country meet on Oct. 12, 2019.
“I was pretty pleased with myself,” Jacobson said. “I set a new personal best.
I’ve never ran an 8K faster than 30 minutes. I felt a little different from the get-go of the race. I felt myself pushing a little harder and it paid off when I crossed the finish line and saw my time.”
Finishing after Jacobson was Noble Buckhaults at 29 minutes, 48 seconds and Chris Kincaid at 29 minutes, 52 seconds. Nathan Ashe and Caleb Pierce rounded out the team’s score Saturday morning.
Victor Cruz, Nick Nakvinda, David Clemente and Nick Castillo ran the race for the Rangers on Saturday but did not score points for the team.
The men’s team finished behind Southern Arkansas University, Harding University and Oklahoma Baptist University. The East Central University Tigers won the race with a team score of 37 points.
Freshman Emily Smith led the team finishing 47th place with a time of 21 minutes, seven seconds. Following her in the race was Mariah Malloy, finishing with a time of 22 minutes.
Jerika Coon finished after Malloy with a time of 23 minutes, 24 seconds.
Ladasheray Bell and Briley Yunker rounded off the team’s scoring on Saturday.
Northwestern runners Melissa Perez, Mallory Paruszewski and Savannah Francis ran at the Great American Conference Championship race but did not score for the team.
The Lady Rangers ran against ten other universities during the meet.
This season, Great American Conference foes Oklahoma Baptist University, East Central University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University competed against the Lady Rangers before the Great American Conference Championship race. The women of Oklahoma Baptist University won the Great American Conference Championship race.
Oklahoma Baptist’s women’s cross-country team has won four straight conference championship after this year’s win.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams have concluded their seasons.