TULSA, Okla. -- The John Brown University men's cross country team returned to action for the first time in 2024 by finishing fifth overall (136 points) at the Distance After Dark meet hosted by Rogers State (Okla.) at the Mohawk Sports Complex.
The seven-team event featured an 87-runner field competing over a 4-mile course under nighttime conditions. Facing a competitive lineup, JBU's men's team delivered a respectable performance, finishing with a team time of 1:46:34.41, averaging 21:18.89 per runner.
"Coach Ledbetter and I are so proud to see the tight knit relationships off the course transfer onto the course," admitted Peter Cunningham after directing the Golden Eagles in his first race as head coach. "There was such a small gap from 1-7 for both squads – they just like being together. We have a sober-minded confidence right now and the team is locked in for more work.
"What a blessing it is to coach this team. The Lord has given such a sweet gift."
For JBU, junior Chase Schermer led the way, crossing the finish line in 21:10.06, which earned him 23rd place overall. Schermer paced his race strategically, clocking a first mile of 6:08.699 before settling into a steady rhythm through the middle stages. His final push over the last mile, where he posted a 4:43.637 split, propelled him to a strong finish as JBU's top scorer.
Right behind Schermer, sophomore Zach Briscoe finished in 26th place with a time of 21:14.18. Briscoe ran a consistent race, covering the initial two miles in 11:20.449, before maintaining his form and securing valuable points for the team.
Junior Matthew Cook was the third JBU runner to cross the line, placing 28th with a time of 21:20.08. Cook's endurance was on full display as he posted consistent splits, staying within the 5:10-5:20 range throughout the race.
Freshman Samuel Burkett made his collegiate debut with a solid performance, placing 29th overall in 21:24.07. Burkett demonstrated poise under pressure, running alongside his teammates for much of the race and finishing just behind Cook.
Rounding out the top five for JBU was senior Andrew Janzen, who finished 30th with a time of 21:26.02. Janzen's steady pacing helped him navigate the final mile without fading, contributing to JBU's overall team score.
"Both squads were tasked with pack running until the start of the last lap," assistant coach Ben Ledbetter noted. "They all executed exactly as prescribed. Along with prime execution, we had PRs across the board. Our freshman stepped into their first collegiate race with confidence, and our returners and transfers led their packs to success."
The overall individual title went to Maxamillian Wheeler of Oklahoma Baptist University, who dominated the course with a winning time of 19:50.61, setting a blistering pace with a sub-5:00 final mile split. His performance helped Oklahoma Baptist claim the team championship with an impressive 23 points. The Bison saw five of their runners finish inside the top 10, with an average time of 20:13.32, as they finished ahead of Missouri Southern State University, which took second place with 49 points.
Host school Rogers State University claimed third place with 53 points, narrowly missing second due to Missouri Southern's slightly faster collective time. Rogers State was led by Nathaneal Gibson, who finished seventh overall in 20:28.20.
Oklahoma Christian University took fourth place with 111 points, with their top runner, Cole Davenport, finishing in 20:52.60 for 15th place. The Golden Eagles finished fifth, ahead of UA-Fort Smith (188 points) and Neosho County Community College (219 points).
The Blue and Gold will return to action on Friday (Sept. 20) for the Larry Young Invitational, hosted by Columbia (Mo.) in Columbia, Mo.
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