TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—Winny Koskei finished seventh overall to headline the day for the Wichita State men's and women's cross country teams on Saturday morning at Pre-Nationals.
 
Coach Kirk Hunter said Koskei's race sets her up well for the rest of the season.
 
"This is probably the best race she's ever run here," Hunter said. "At the regional meet last year, she let everybody get away and ran them down. At the national meet, she did the same thing. Today she hung in there. They weren't separating much through 5K, and then she started rolling on some people."
 
The All-American's seventh-place finish clocked in at 20:23.8. She was the best finisher from Midwest Region schools, and proved she is in top shape to earn All-American status again this year.
 
Koskei was out with the leaders early in the race and never fell further back than 16th, according to the splits. She led the chase pack the whole way and closed the final 2,000 meters in 6:51.5.
 
Rebekah Topham was the next-best Shocker woman, crossing the line in 60th. She fought back from a tough start, eventually improving her position 89 spots from the 2K split until the finish.
 
Abeba Sullivan, Yazmine Wright and Halle Johnson rounded out the Shockers' top five. The Wichita State women came in 17th place in the team race.
 
On the men's side, Zack Penrod and Ben Flowers led the charge. Penrod ended the race in 101st, but improved 70 spots from the 3K split to the finish, and Flowers moved up 76 spots over the final 5K to come in 104th.
 
"I was really happy with Zack, and Ben ran really well again," Hunter said. "It's tough against this many people. When you get behind, it's tough to come back. Those guys were here to race.
 
"They showed experience. When you get in a situation where it isn't going well, you just got to keep running."
 
Jed Helker, Ethan Kossover and Adam Moore rounded out Wichita State's scoring effort, The Shocker men finished in 30th place in the team race.
 
In the women's open section, all four Shockers finished in the top 80. Erin Topham led the way in 50th place.
 
In the men's open section,  Bryce Merriman finished 20th, leading the way for the Shockers.
 
Next up for Shocker cross country is the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. That race is Nov. 1 in Memphis, Tennessee.
 
 
Men's Team Results
1. BYU – 81 points
2. Colorado – 83 points
3. Iona – 140 points
30. Wichita State – 716 points
 
Men's Individual Results
101. Zack Penrod – 24:51.9
104. Ben Flowers – 24:54.1
165. Jed Helker – 25:29.1
166. Ethan Kossover – 25:29.8
180. Adam Moore – 25:40.1
188. Cory Landon – 25:44.6
232. Josh Klein – 26:20.5
 
Men's Open Race Individual Results
20. Bryce Merriman – 25:35.0
81. Alex Moen – 26:57.4
89. Josh Cable – 27:12.6
95. Britte Magnuson – 27:23.8
 
Women's Team Results
1. Washington – 84 points
2. BYU – 87 points
3. Colorado – 126 points
17. Wichita State – 525 points
 
Women's Individual Results
7. Winny Koskei – 20:23.8
60. Rebekah Topham – 21:01.7
124. Abeba Sullivan – 21:40.3
148. Yazmine Wright – 21:53.3
191. Halle Johnson – 22:17.8
221. Rita Schnacker – 22:39.6
242. Danielle Rinn – 23:12.2 
 
Women's Open Race Individual Results
50. Erin Topham – 23:21.8
53. Hope Saunders – 23:23.6
69. Katie Cumpston – 23:45.9
78. McKenna Paintin – 23:59.3