Baldwin City, Kan. - The Central Methodist men's and women's cross country programs opened the 2022 season at the ZK Maple Leaf Invite, hosted by Baker University Saturday morning in Baldwin City, Kan.
The women placed third out of eight teams, while the men finished fourth of seven. Other teams competing in the meet included; Baker, Benedictine, Cottey College, Haskell, Missouri Valley, Park and Rockhurst.
On the women's side, junior Katherine Bangert finished fourth in the 4K with a time of 15:49.62. Madeline Wieseman just finished outside the Top 10 with an 12th place standing at 16:11.78.
Newcomer Kjirsten Guilford placed 20th in a time of 16:39.37. Morgan Miller (25th, 16:54.97) and Natalie Garr (36th, 17:35.93) rounded out Central's top five runners.
For the CMU men, sophomore transfer Meshack Kiptanui placed second in the 5Kwith time of 16:17.82. He was just a little over three seconds behind first-place winner Jaiven Hale of Haskell.
Shawn Kiptoo joined Kiptanui in the Top 10, placing seventh in a time of 16:27.16. Doriye Jackson also ran well in his first race in a Central uniform, posting a 15th place standing in a time of 17:04.58.
Exavier Coburn (29th, 17:39.10) and Grant Engel (30th, 17:40.03) finished back-to-back to round out Central's top five runners.
CMU will next compete in the Larry Young Invitational, hosted by Columbia College Friday, Sept. 16 in Columbia, Mo.
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