OBU Ready to Make a Run at Cross Country Glory

Oklahoma Baptist University's fifth-ranked women's and 20th-ranked men's cross country teams will be the region's lone entries at the NAIA national meet in Louisville, Ky., Saturday.

The OBU women crept as high as fourth in the NAIA rankings before dipping to fifth in the final poll.

Their team times match up well with the rest of the lead pack with the fourth-best team time among the regional meets.

Mirriam Kaumba is the defending national individual champion and comes off a school record 16:48 two weeks ago. She and OBU teammates Kelsey and Katie Engstrom, both freshmen, Becka Brock and Katy Rader were the five scorers at the regional with Kyta Ferrer and Sarah Hale rounding out the seven-runner grouping.

Hale will be the alternate for OBU in Louisville with Chandra Huckabay available to run.

Ferrer could turn OBU from underdog to trophy-winner, as she has ran a full minute faster than her regional showing.

On the men's side Daniel Ellis leads the herd with Landon Willets, Theron Stoltzfus, David Matushak, Cole Tunnell, Jacob Wright and Nathan Battershell trying to take OBU ahead of its ranking. Josiah White will be the alternate.

Ellis was third in the regional meet with Stolzfus, Willets, Tunnell and Matushak all scoring as well with a winning total of 50 points.

The women's race begins Saturday at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women's race at 11:30.