March 28, 2024

OCU Wins NAIA Mid-States Classic; Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harris (Kickapoo) Finishes 6th Overall

WINFIELD, Kan – Oklahoma City University won the men’s race, while the women placed third in the NAIA Mid-States Classic.

David Mountford, a sophomore from Shotton, Wales, finished first for Oklahoma City, ranked No. 1 in NAIA men’s cross country with a second overall placing. Sara Moore, a sophomore from Omaga, Ireland provided OCU’s 18th-ranked women with a fourth overall showing.

Among the men, six Stars turned in top 10 finishes. OCU turned in only 20 total points and an average time of 25 minutes, 3.66 seconds in the 8,000-meter race.

“I thought the men ran like a defending national championship program today,” OCU coach Conor Holt said. “We have a number of individuals that are on the cusp of some great performances and just need a little lady luck with the weather and energy. Two weeks from conference and four weeks from nationals, we now move into the championship portion of the season which is always my most favorite time of the fall.”

Mountford finished the race with a time of 24:44.40. Peter Koskey, a junior from Keringet, Kenya, placed third with a time of 24:55.

Arya Bahreini, a junior from Edmond, Okla., turned in a 24:59.70, good for fourth place, while Matko Csaba, a freshman from Budapest, Hunrgy, finished in 25:12.80 in fifth for the Stars. Mackenzie Wahpepah-Harris turned in a 25:26.40, sixth place finish.

Other Stars’ finishes were Kyle Wardwell (25:50.40), Michael Vercoe-Curtis (25:57.10) and Reno Blum (26:13.60).