Men’s Cross Country Claims 2nd Title of Season

JOPLIN, Mo. – Butler cross country competed for a second time in 2024 on Friday at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

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The Grizzly men took the team title (37 points) as freshman Emmanuel Otim took first, his second individual title of the season as well as the men's second team title. The women took seventh, the second highest NJCAA team finish with 266 points. Otim's individual win was Butler's third straight on the men's side at the Missouri Southern Stampede, (Adem Bouldjadj in 2023, Rodgers Rotich in 2022)

Otim ran the men's 8k in 24:33.49 for his second title of the young season after previously winning the Terry Masterson Twilight in Hutchinson. Itumeleng Ngxabazi was the next highest finisher in sixth (25:27.18), followed by Bhekizulu Khumalo in eighth (25:36.74) and Sfiso Makolomakwa in ninth (25:38.82).

Ishmael Acheampong came in 13th (26:08.34), Kamohelo Ramatsebe finished in 15th (26:13.45), Isaiah Smith in 30th (27:22.31), Cesar Pavia in 63rd (28:30.27) and Alberto Torres in 90th (29:19.99) to round out the men's finishers.

Elizabeth Hernandez was Butler's top finisher on the women's side coming in eighth, (18:24.03). Jessica Mbhamali came in 33rd (19:41.10), Alison Unruh in 42nd (20:00.78) and Valyrie Freeman in 73rd (21:14.45). Hernandez was the third highest NJCAA finisher at the meet.

Butler returns to action this coming weekend at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday.