Sept. 11, 2004

Photo Gallery

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Kansas Jayhawks men's cross country team have made it two for two with first place finishes in this year's first two events. Saturday Kansas traveled to Topeka to compete in the Kansas State Wildcat Invitational. The men's 8k race featured six teams that included Kansas State, Oklahoma, Fort Hays, Wichita State and Missouri-KC.

KU placed five finishers in the top ten to seal the victory. Leading the way for the Jayhawks for the second straight week was sophomore Tyler Kelly who placed third with a career-best time of 25:26.0. Kansas also took the fifth through eighth positions. Junior Matt French placed fifth (25:37.5), followed by junior Joshy Madathil (6th, 25:42.0), freshman Colby Wissel (7th, 25:44.5) and senior D.J. Hilding (8th, 25:46.1).

"We had some runners that ran well and some that didn't," Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. "I think as a pack we ran well and that made the difference in the race."

Sophomore sensation Benson Chesang did not race for the second consecutive week, but the family did get good news. Benson's brother Matthew was the overall men's winner for Kansas State with a time of 21:13.4.

On the women's side, the Jayhawks took fourth place out of eight teams in the 6k race. Competing in the race were Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Kansas State, Missouri-KC, Oklahoma, Fort Hays and Haskell Indian Nations. Mary Davies of Oklahoma State took first place and led her team to the win with a time of 21:13.4. Freshman Connie Abbott continued her impressive running, scoring the Jayhawks top finish of 12th place with a time of 23:29.9. Other KU finishers included sophomore Laura Major (16th, 23:32.4), sophomore Dena Seibel (24th, 23:47.5) and sophomore Jessie Violand (25th, 23:51.3).

The Jayhawks will take next weekend off but will be in action at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn. on September 25th.

Men's Results