The Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams both won group titles at Rim Rock Collegiate Challenge on a wet and rainy Saturday outside of Lawrence.
Sophomore Ally Ryan paced the KU women with her second individual title of the season. Ryan, who finished Saturday in 22:59.3, also won the Bob Timmons Classic in late August.
Other KU women who contributed to the team title included juniors Cameron Gueldner (23:38.2) and Catherine Liggett (23:44.5), who crossed the finish line in fifth and sixth place, and freshman Kalea Chu (23:56.9, ninth) and senior Riley Cooney (23:58.2, 10th), giving KU five Top 10 finishers at the event.
KU’s Michael Melgares was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line in the men’s 8K. He placed third overall in 25:47.4, and came in 10 seconds behind two unattached runners from Kansas City.
The KU men put five runners in the Top 11, with senior Dylan Hodgson (25:59.7) finishing fourth, sophomore Jake Ralston (25:59.7) taking sixth, sophomore John Luder (26:18.3) taking 10th and junior George Letner (26:28.0) right behind him in 11th place.
The Jayhawks next will travel to the Pre-National Invitational on Oct. 19 at the LaVern Gibson Championship XC Course in Terre Haute, Ind.
