BLUE DRAGON MEN ARE MASTERSON TWILIGHT CLASSIC RUNNER-UP

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

After three-straight disappointing seasons at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, the Hutchinson Community College men's cross country team made quite a statement on Friday night at Fun Valley.

With three runners placing in the top seven, the Blue Dragons finished as team runner-up at the ninth-annual Masterson Twilight, the Blue Dragons' first Top 2 finish since 2019.

The Blue Dragons finished with 64 points to team champion Butler's 34. Wichita State and Fort Hays Tech-Northwest (former Northwest Tech) tied for third with 76 points. The Blue Dragons had their fourth all-time Top 3 Masterson finish and second runner-up team placing, the first since 2019.

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Before Friday's second-place team finish, the Dragons no scored at the Masterson in 2023 and 2021 and finished 10th in 2022. Those three years came after winning the 2018 Masterson and finishing third in 2019.

Blue Dragon freshman Dennis Cheruiyot led the Blue Dragons with a second-place finish in a time of 19:51.3, the second fastest by a Blue Dragon on the Masterson Twilight's four-mile course. Only Andrew Kibet ran a better Masterson time, running a 19:70.2 at the 2018 Masterton. Cheruiyot was 4.3 seconds off the winning pace of Butler's Emmanuel Otim.

Cheruiyot posted the 11th-fastest time in Terry Masterson Twilight men's history.

Blue Dragon freshman Cornelius Kogo placed fifth with a time of 20:12.3, which ranked 16th overall in Masterson history.

Freshman Titus Kiprotich was seventh overall in a time of 20:32.6.

Other Blue Dragons to figure into the team score were freshman Kaden Lohrentz, who placed 24th in 21:48.5. Sophomore David Ultreras was 26th in 21:55.5.

Freshman Blake Yoder was the only other Blue Dragon to run on Friday. He placed 40th in 23:21.3.

The Blue Dragons will next race at the Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival on September 28 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.