Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, September 5
Ashland, Neb.
6 p.m. (W) / 6:45 p.m. (M)
Kansas State University
at
Platte River Rumble Gold
Cross Country Opens Season with Platte River Rumble Gold
Sep 04, 2025 | Cross Country
Both the men's and women's team expect multiple freshmen to compete
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State men's and women's cross country teams prepare for the first race of the season on Friday (September 5) in the Platte River Rumble Gold in Ashland, Neb., at Mahoney Cross Country Course.
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The women's 5k starts at 6 p.m. CT, prior to the men's 6k at 6:45 p.m. Event tickets need to be purchased prior to Friday afternoon as a $20 entrance fee per vehicle to the Eugene T. Mahoney State Park with each occupant receiving a wristband to access the course. More ticket information can be found here.
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Other competing teams include co-hosts Creighton and Nebraska Omaha, Missouri Western, Nebraska, Northwest Missouri State, South Dakota and others.
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This is the first season opener outside the state of Kansas since 2021 when the teams ran in the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The Wildcats previously started the season in the Bob Timmons Classic in Lawrence, Kan., for three consecutive seasons.
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During the Bob Timmons Classic last season, the women's team finished runner-up with 41 points, then-junior Grace Meyer finished runner-up in the 5k in 18:06.2. The men's team claimed third place with 62 points as graduated senior Tommy Hazen finished the 6k in 4th place with the Wildcats lone time under 19 minutes at 18:43.8.
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This season the women's team boasts senior leadership with Meyer, Cecilia Fisher and Alexa Rios, as well as three juniors, Paige Baker, Vienna Lahner and Angie Pondler. Lahner joined the K-State track and field team in January as a mid-season addition while Pondler spent the last two seasons at Iowa Western.
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The men's team features nine runners, four of them true freshmen. Fifth-year senior Julian Avila joins lone upperclassman junior Jacob Norris after spending the last three seasons at Kansas Wesleyan. Along with Norris, sophomore Jackson Esquibel raced in all five meets last season, crossing the finish line second for the Cats at the Big 12 Conference and NCAA Midwest Regional.
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How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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The women's 5k starts at 6 p.m. CT, prior to the men's 6k at 6:45 p.m. Event tickets need to be purchased prior to Friday afternoon as a $20 entrance fee per vehicle to the Eugene T. Mahoney State Park with each occupant receiving a wristband to access the course. More ticket information can be found here.
Â
Other competing teams include co-hosts Creighton and Nebraska Omaha, Missouri Western, Nebraska, Northwest Missouri State, South Dakota and others.
Â
This is the first season opener outside the state of Kansas since 2021 when the teams ran in the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The Wildcats previously started the season in the Bob Timmons Classic in Lawrence, Kan., for three consecutive seasons.
Â
During the Bob Timmons Classic last season, the women's team finished runner-up with 41 points, then-junior Grace Meyer finished runner-up in the 5k in 18:06.2. The men's team claimed third place with 62 points as graduated senior Tommy Hazen finished the 6k in 4th place with the Wildcats lone time under 19 minutes at 18:43.8.
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This season the women's team boasts senior leadership with Meyer, Cecilia Fisher and Alexa Rios, as well as three juniors, Paige Baker, Vienna Lahner and Angie Pondler. Lahner joined the K-State track and field team in January as a mid-season addition while Pondler spent the last two seasons at Iowa Western.
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The men's team features nine runners, four of them true freshmen. Fifth-year senior Julian Avila joins lone upperclassman junior Jacob Norris after spending the last three seasons at Kansas Wesleyan. Along with Norris, sophomore Jackson Esquibel raced in all five meets last season, crossing the finish line second for the Cats at the Big 12 Conference and NCAA Midwest Regional.
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-- k-statesports.com --
 How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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