Bouldjadj and Bird win 3rd consecutive race for Butler Cross Country at Firestarter Classic

IOLA, Kan. – Adem Bouldjadj and Khloi Bird combined to win and sweep first place for the third straight race at the Firestarter Classic on Saturday afternoon to pace Butler cross country.

Bouldjadj, a freshman, won the men's 8k with a personal record run of 23:39.07, winning by a full minute as he layed claim to his fourth first place finish this season. He has won all four races the Grizzlies have competed in. Freshman Soualah Yasser was the next highest men's finisher coming in 14th, running 25:59.41. Devon Simmons placed 39th (27:20.80), Kevin Swindell placed 45th (27:34.52), Branen Moore placed 67th (28:40.71) and Isaiah Smith rounded out the men finishers in 76th as he ran the 8k in (29:23.35). The men placed fifth as a team behind Northwest Kansas, Cowley, Garden City and Crowder.

Bird won her third straight race and third of the season as she took first by eight seconds at 19:01.72. Heidi Grimmett followed in 19th running 20:24.09, Valyrie Freeman came in 26th (20:59.72), Josie Ware came in 46th at 23:02.91, Trishanie Warner placed 55th (23:41.24) and Emma Curley came in 67th (28:01.44). The women also came in fifth behind Cowley, Dodge City, Hutchinson and Crowder.

The meet served as a tune-up for the KJCCC Region Championships that are set for Oct. 27. Details on location and time will be released at a later date.