HUTCH MEN SECOND AT FORT HAYS STATE OPEN
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
VICTORIA – The No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's cross country team had a three-race winning streak snapped by a scant two points.
The Blue Dragons finished second in the Black Division of the Fort Hays State Open at Sand Plum Trail Course on Saturday. Hutchinson was edged by Jayhawk Conference and Region VI rival Colby 55-57. Cloud County was third with 76 points.
The three-race winning streak of Hutchinson freshman Andrew Kibet also came to an end. Kibet was second to Cloud County's Dennis Kiptoo on Saturday. There was almost a 9-second different between the two runners on Saturday. Kibet had beaten Kiptoo in two previous head-to-head meetings.
Kibet's time over the soft and wet 8,000-meter course was 24 minutes, 52.1 seconds. Freshman Sylvetre Kibara was sixth overall with a time of 25:42.2 Freshman Brett Hillabrand placed 16th overall with a time of 26:21.1 on Saturday. Jared Stark was 23rd with a time of 26:41.1. Sophomore Connor Kaufman was the fifth Dragon runner to figure in the scoring. He was 30th in 26:48.2.
Colby's five runners to score placed 3-5-7-16-24. Hutch's was 2-6-12-17-20.
Other Blue Dragon placers were: Jason Luft (32nd, 26:51.2); Gavin Alexander (50th, 27:27.9); Kade Gerlach (59th, 27:39.3); Grant Clothier (65th, 27:46.4); Tony Ibarra (76th, 27:58.9); Jacob Schartz (140th, 30:32.6); Hunter Popkey (163rd, 32.35.7).
The Blue Dragons are off for two weeks before competing in the 2018 Region VI Championships on October 27 in Winfield.