Cross Country | 9/5/2025 12:12:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Adrian Diaz Lopez considered running at Oklahoma State so strongly he had an email waiting for his signature for a scholarship. Alabama was an option, as well.
 
The belief that Wichita State and distance coach Kirk Hunter presented a better option won out. Hunter proved it during one of Lopez's toughest junior college races.
 
"I decided to come here because of the coaches, the staff, the people," Lopez said. "The team environment. I got that connection with Coach Hunter."

 
Lopez, a senior from Cazorla, Spain, wraps up his Shocker career this fall with cross country eligibility. He opens his season in the JK Gold Classic on Saturday at Clapp Cross Country Course. Men's college races begin at 8 a.m., followed by the women and high school races.
 
After WSU, his focus is international track and field competition with the goal of competing for Spain in the Olympics. He transferred to Wichita State in 2022 from Cowley College and values his time and improvement as a Shocker.
 
"It's been amazing, especially to enjoy running," he said. "The more time I'm here, I prove I was 100-percent right in coming here. They've always been there for me."
 
At Cowley, Lopez twice won the NJCAA 3,000 meters and the 2021 NJCAA Division II cross country title. In 2022, he fell after two laps in the 3,000 and had to rally to win at Pittsburg State's Plaster Center. He remembers Hunter's reaction at the finish line.
 
"He was more happy than even me after the race," Lopez said. "I was able to feel how much he was going to care about me. He was so excited."
 
As a Shocker, he contributed immediately by finishing ninth in the American Conference cross country meet in 2022. He also earned all-conference honors in indoor and outdoor track. Foot injuries sidelined him in 2023-24. He returned in 2024-25 to finish 23^rd in the conference meet and set school records in the outdoor 5,000 meters (13 minutes, 53.29 seconds).
 
This fall, he looks forward to ending his college career on what he thinks is the strongest team of his time at WSU.
 
"Adrian is more fit than he's ever been," Hunter said. "He's getting more miles in. He seems to be 100-percent healthy."
 
Senior Zander Cobb, who finished 18^th in the conference meet in 2023, is also running well, Hunter said. The addition of Elkana Kipruto, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, and Kelvin Kipyego, a transfer from Crowder (Mo.) College, give Hunter confidence in his top runners. Yared Kidane, who placed 21^st at last fall's conference meet, is not at Wichita State this fall team to visa issues.
 
Kipruto won the Southland Conference cross country title last fall, in addition to the indoor and outdoor 5,000 and the 10,000 outdoors.
 

"He's a superstar," Hunter said. "Incredible talent. He's obviously going to be a difference-maker for us. It's going to make everybody else rise to a different level, because they're going to need to in order to be training with him."
 
The Shocker women are boosted by the return of Lucy Ndungu, who placed second in the 2023 American Conference meet. A toe injury sidelined her in 2024-25 and she will return to racing later this fall. Freshman Mercy Jepkoech finished second in the three-mile Terry Masterson Classic with a time of 16:55.63 in her first college race.
 
Senior Sarah Bertry is a two-time all-conference cross country performer.
 
"Sarah is really fit, and I think she looks as good as I've ever seen her," Hunter said.
 
On Thursday, Lopez prepared for the race with his traditional trip to the barber. Part on the right. Combed to the left. Low fade in the back. Plenty of gel. He runs in the JK Gold Classic for the first time and wants to look his best.
 
"You need to look in the mirror and look good, and that way you have the confidence to run good, as well," he said. "It all goes together."
 
Together is how Lopez describes his time at Wichita State - school records, the 2023 conference outdoor track title, helping the team while dealing with injury. Together made it all possible.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.