HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A group of Shockers are set to open the 2025 cross country season Friday evening at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic at the Fun Valley Sports Complex.
 
Seven Shockers will race in the women's three-mile race at 8:30 p.m., and five will compete in the men's four-mile race at 9:05 p.m.
 
Four newcomer women will make their Wichita State debuts as Francesca Alvarado, Mercy Jepkoech, Jordyn Picolet and Jasmine Stiede are all entered to race. Two newcomer men, Austin Carrera and Greyson Ellensohn, will compete unattached.
 
Returners, Faith Ekart, Audrey Parson and Emily See, along with Ian Hunter, Bennett Meoli, Landen O'Neill, Aidan Reyna and Riley Vandaveer will also race Friday evening to open their seasons.
 
A year ago at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, the Shocker women took home the team title, led by Ekart and Isabelle Hartnett, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the three-mile race. The men had six in the top 20 to finish third as a team.
 
The Wichita State men enter the season ranked No. 12 in the USTFCCCA Midwest Region preseason rankings, and the women will see the return of NCAA Track and Field All-America Honorable Mention runner and the 2024 American Conference cross country runner up, Lucy Ndungu, this season. The Shockers also return two-time all-conference cross country runner, Sarah Bertry, and 2022 all-conference cross country runner, Adrian Diaz Lopez.