Zadie St. Louis leads Grizzlies to KJCCC East Runner-up Finish

In the most bizarre and chaotic season in the history of Butler Cross Country, the Grizzly harriers fought through all the adversity and had a strong showing at the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and Region VI Championships last Friday in El Dorado, KS.

The men's team brought home third place in Region VI, Division I and also had a third place KJCCC East finish, a big improvement from a season ago when they finished 6th in Region VI.

The women were KJCCC East Runner-up for the second straight year and finished 5^th place overall in Region VI, Division I.

"I am happy with how we did but not satisfied," commented head coach Dustin Mettler. "All year we have struggled to have a consistent five runners on the men's and that definitely hurt us. This is a big improvement from last year, so I am not that disappointed in how we finished but I know there is more this group can give."

Obadia Tanui led the Grizzlies to their third place finish coming in 7^th overall running an 8K race of 25:36.91. 

"Obadia ran a good race considering he has had a minor injury on his right leg", said Mettler. "He has gutted through the last few weeks of practice and gutted out the race on Friday."

Tarik Xavier came in 16^th place in the 90-runner field finishing with a 26:32.64, just a few seconds off finishing inside the top 15 to become All-Region.

Freshmen Daniel Birchell and Issa Amfa continued to pace eachother coming in together in 32^nd and 33^rd placings. Birchell edged Amfa by two-seconds running a 27:33.96 while Amfa finished with a 27:35.84.

Juan Tovar took 52^nd place running a 29:04.12 and would be the Grizzlies 5^th runner to score points. Maguire Sole placed 57^th with a time of 29:20:17, a new personal best for him, and Luis Manqueros came in 69^th place with a time of 30:12.87.

Cloud County won the Region on the Division I side and won the KJCCC West while Cowley College took 1^st in Division II in Region VI and brough homw the KJCCC East title. Awet Beraki of Cloud County won the men's individual race running a 24:24.56. he was trailed closely by Cowley's Amos Pkiach who finished runner-up at 24:29.03.

 Men's Overall Results: HERE

The Butler women finished KJCCC East Runner-up and took 5^th in Region VI, Division I.

Zadie St. Louis, as she has done all year, paced the Grizzly squad and took 4^th overall in the individual women's 5K race running a 19:15.77, a new personal best, and beating her Region finish from a year ago when she placed 9^th. 

"Despite running a personal best, Zadie could have been more agressive," mentioned Mettler. "Yes she ran a PR, and a good race, but she has more that she can give and jsut doesn't realize it yet." 

Sylvia Korir was the next best finisher for the Grizzlies as she came in 26^th place running a 20:59.80. Stephany Lechuga ran a 21:09.24 and placed 30^th out of the 73-runner field. Freshman Emily Hankins took 39^th running a 21:47.67 while Leyni Gomez placed 50^th crossing the finish line at 23:08.04. Ann Dangha ran a 25:13.78, taking 63^rd in the meet.

Similar to the men, Cloud County won the KJCCC West and Region VI, Division I title while Cowley brought home the KJCCC East and Region VI, Division II title. Lubna Suied of Cowley was the top finisher on the women's side running an 18:05.27. She was paced by Cloud's Patricia Koma who finished with a time of 18:11.28. As freshman a seasn ago, Suied of Cowley was third and Koma of Cloud was 5^th in this meet. Abigael Kemboi of Colby won the event as a freshman but finished third place this season.

The teams will now prep for the NJCAA Cross Country Championships coming up on November 14, 2020 in Fort Dodge, IA.

"We will continue to train like we have and try our best to stay injury free and healthy," said Mettler. 

For more information on the National meet click HERE.