Cross Country | 10/30/2026 11:38:00 AM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Championship season has arrived for Wichita State's cross country teams. The men are already deep into a landmark season. They are better positioned to win a conference title than at any time in recent years.
However, a No. 24 national ranking (the program's first appearance in the history of the coaches poll) doesn't necessarily make the Shockers the favorite in Saturday's American Conference Championships in New Orleans. Tulsa won 11 of the past 12 conference titles. Tulane recently emerged as a conference power to win the 2024 title and finish second in 2025.
"Tulsa and Tulane have, not only great talent, but they have depth," Wichita State coach
Kirk Hunter said. "If one of their guys struggles, they have somebody who can step in. It's one of those situations where we have to be perfect."
The women's 6-kilometer race begins at 9:15 a.m. The men's 8K follows.
The Shockers moved into the national rankings on Oct. 20 on the strength of a fourth-place finish in the Pre-National Invitational earlier this month. WSU finished ahead of No. 26 Arizona and No. 29 North Carolina and Tulane. In late September, the Shockers finished third at the Gans Creek Classic, ahead of then-No. 28 Missouri and then-No. 30 Kansas.
The Shocker men, who last won a conference title in 1987, finished second in the American in 2021 and 2022, but far behind Tulsa. The current Shocker roster contains the talent to challenge Tulsa and Tulane at the front of the race. Elkana Kipruto won the individual title a year ago. Newcomer
Nicholas Kipchirchir finished third at the Pre-National meet earlier this month behind Tulane's Silas Kiptanui and Kipruto.
Dennis Rono,
Kelvin Kipyego and
Austin Carrera are experienced runners whom Hunter is counting on to battle their counterparts at Tulsa and Tulane. Kipyego finished sixth last fall with Carrera 30
th to earn a spot on the conference's All-Freshman team.
"We have five guys who have done it each time," Hunter said.
To top Tulsa and Tulane, the Shockers likely need another runner or two to step up. The top five runners score points in the race. WSU's depth could become important if one of its top five falter or by pushing down runners from other schools.
WSU does have experienced runners with a history of strong performances. Fifth-year
Jacob Meyers finished 23
rd and senior
Jonah Allison finished 28
th at the conference meet in 2025.
"We have a chance, but everything needs to go right," Hunter said. "We need a sixth and seventh guy to come up and close the gap on our No. 5."
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.
