Men defend region cross country title

Sanele Masondo and Emily Diercks were first in the men's and women's races, and the men's squad remained on top at the Region VI Cross Country Championships on Oct. 28 in Hutchinson. Amid the success of the student-athletes, Coach Brady Johnson was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Men's Coach of the Year.

The men's score of 23 is the lowest at the region meet in more than two decades. The NJCAA's top-ranked squad claimed five of the first eight spots in Friday's event and had seven all-region runners.

Masondo is now undefeated in four contests this season after a first-place time of 23.31.6. His performance also earned him national athlete of the week honors for the third time from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. On just four other occasions, a male athlete won the award as many times in one season.

Kgadi Monyebodi (24:05.1) was third, followed by Ricardo Barbosa (24:10.7). Mohammed Baghati (24:32.6) placed seventh, just ahead of Remi Chavenaud (24:42.5). Aled Jones (25:04.3) finished in 10^th place, and Tom Thierry had a 13^th-place time of 25:17.8.

Diercks posted a time of 18:06.9. The sophomore from Hoxie is undefeated against junior college competition and has won her past three races.

The Trojans now prepare for the 2022 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Nov. 12 in Tallahassee, Fla.