Cross Country | 9/6/2025 12:14:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Adrian Diaz Lopez watched Elkana Kipruto run for the first time in August and knew his new teammate possessed special talent. Every step, every gliding movement, every low-stress workout, since confirms that impression.
"He's just flying," Lopez said. "Like he didn't stay on the ground. He makes running look easy. He's running super-fast and it's like 'Look at the guy, he's not even straining.'"
Kipruto, a sophomore, added to that impression with his win in the JK Gold Classic on Saturday morning on a muddy track at Clapp Cross Country Course. He finished with a time of 18 minutes, 41.49 seconds in the 6-kilometer race to help the Shockers to a fourth straight men's title.
Lopez finished second (18:46.41) with
Kelvin Kipyego (18:53.98) and
Zander Cobb (18:58.70) in fourth and fifth.
Cesar Ramirez (19:10.29) placed ninth.
"Today was about teamwork," Kipyego said. "That will bring us, as a team, to another level."
Mercy Jepkoech finished third in the women's 5K at 18:34.81 with
Sarah Bertry in fifth (18:40.32). The Shockers, resting top returner
Lucy Ndungu, finished third behind Oklahoma and Fort Hays State.
While the Shocker men dominated as individuals, the message from coach
Kirk Hunter emphasized running as pack and encouraging teammates to prepare for championship races later in the fall.
"Teamwork matters," Kipruto said. "We push each other. I cannot do it alone."
Kipruto, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, won the Southland Conference title last fall. He and Kipyego, fellow Kenyans, have known each other for around five years. Kipyego, a transfer from Crowder (Mo.) College, signed with WSU in the spring. When Kipruto entered the transfer portal in June, the friendship helped bring him to Wichita.
"We've been supporting each other as a brotherhood," Kipyego said. "We decided, 'Why not be here? It's a good place to be.'"
The addition of those two, and improvements from returners, makes Lopez excited for the rest of the fall. The Shockers figure to have four runners who can compete near the top of the American Conference and are developing more scorers.
"It's so good to have a team like that," he said. "It's going to push me all year long. It's too early to have an idea what the team's going to be but today was a good test."
Lopez, a senior, ran in the JK Gold Classic for the first time. He missed 2023-24 with foot injuries and is excited to feel healthy and fit to start 2025.
"Today was the first time I felt competitive, and I felt myself in the front group," he said. "Being able to move through the last 400 meters fighting for the win. That's where we need to be all the race, especially myself, if I want to make nationals and for the team. No excuses."
Hunter said his Kenyans are still relatively new to competitive running.
"They haven't run their whole life," he said. "We asked about high school (personal records), and they said 'We don't have high school P.R.'s.' All that means is there is upside everywhere you look."
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.
