Williams Baptist repeats at Lyon College

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WIlliams Baptist University Sports Information

August 30, 2019

By WILLIAMS BAPTIST SPORTS INFORMATION

BATESVILLE – A year ago the Williams Baptist University men’s cross country team won a meet for the first time in school history. Today, the Eagles repeated that feat at the same course and race. WBU won the Lyon Invitational, hosted by Lyon College in Batesville.

The team won with 36 points. They finished one point ahead of Lyon (37) and 13 points ahead of Crowley’s Ridge College (49). It was head coach Tim Shepard‘s first race as the head Eagle.

“Today was only a 5km race, but I think my guys have gained some confidence. They showed their competitive nature. We are not where we want to be just yet, but if we build on this we can surprise some people,” said Shepard.

The Eagles took home the individual places of fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth. Lucas Goodrich (SO/Dexter, Mo.) led the way with a 5km time of 19:10, followed by Ruben Whitney (FR/Fayetteville) and Jack Wafler (SR/Memphis, Tenn.). Whitney finished in fifth with a time of 19:25, while Wafler ran the race in 20:04, good enough for sixth place. Joey Colvert (SR/Bryant)’s time of 21:10 placed him in ninth place for the race.

Karlis Smith (FR/West Memphis) was the fifth finisher for Williams after coming in 12th place with a time of 22:20. Meanwhile, Isaiah Cook (FR/Hoxie) finished in 14th place with a time of 23:44.

This was the first time Whitney, Smith and Cook represented WBU at the collegiate level.

Williams Baptist wins in Batesville

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Photo by Williams Baptist University SID

August 30, 3019

By WILLIAMS BAPTIST SPORTS INFORMATION

BATESVILLE – The Williams Baptist University women’s cross country team opened its season in style, coming in first place at the 2019 Lyon College Invitational. The 5km race was the opening meet of the season and was hosted by Lyon in Batesville.

The team placed six runners in the race, including five of the top 10. Emily Weiss (FR/Gosnell) led the team with a time of 24:40. She finished in third place overall. It was her first collegiate race. The team finished with 18 points, 21 points ahead of second place Crowley’s Ridge College.

“We are not where we want to be yet, but I have high expectations for these ladies. I have some newcomers with some grit and some returners that know how to lead. It is just the first meet, but my goal is for them to build on this for the rest of the season,” said Head Coach Tim Shepard.

Kyla Downes (JR/Cleveland, Tenn.) finished fourth overall with a time of  25:42. In seventh place overall and third on the team was Kelcey Cooper (JR/Yoakum, Texas) with a time of 27:52. Meanwhile, Ka’lee Daniel (FR/Mountain Home) ran the race in 28:03, good enough for ninth place overall.

Following them was Rachel McKuin (SO/Blytheville) in 10th place and Amy McMorris (FR/Atoka, Okla.) in 13th place. McKuin ran the race in 28:59 and McMorris in 29:32.