Saturday, September 7
Wichita, Kan.
8 AM
University of North Texas
vs
JK Gold Classic
Photo by: © Mackenzie Wilkie All Rights Reserved 2024
Cross Country Heads to Wichita for JK Gold Classic
9/6/2024 9:17:00 AM | Track & Field/XC
Victor Neiva is set to make his season debut
DENTON, Texas – After a season-opening meet that saw seven true freshmen make their collegiate debuts, the UNT cross country program will send a more experienced group of runners to the JK Gold Classic in Wichita, Kansas, Saturday.
"I'm looking forward to seeing another group open up their seasons," head coach Erik Stevens said. "We built solid momentum last weekend and through this week of practice. Saturday will be another opportunity to see where we are so we can really start to dial in the back half of the season."
Of the 11 student-athletes representing the Mean Green in Wichita, only Maggie Cuppett will run for a second consecutive weekend. The true freshman placed 17th at the UCA Bear XC Invitational, which was second among UNT's women at the meet.
Trinity Trotter and Aditi Silwal will kick off their sophomore seasons alongside Cuppett, while a trio of transfers will also make their debuts for North Texas.
London Culbreath was the prized signing of the offseason as the former Gatorade Texas Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year compiled 16 individual top-five finishes in the last two years at TCU. Meanwhile, Betty Bajika will make the transition to the Division I level after being an all-conference performer at West Texas A&M, and Ximena Lopez de Escalera joins the Mean Green after spending one season at Memphis.
On the men's side, Victor Neiva will make his first start of the season next to Connor Bartek, Alan Proenza, and freshmen Matthew Norton and Logan Tauch. Already the school record holder in the 8K and 10K, Neiva will look to solidify his legacy at UNT in his final season of eligibility. The two-time NCAA Championships qualifier is also a three-time all-conference performer and has earned all-region honors the last two seasons.
The JK Gold Classic will begin at 8 a.m. CT Saturday morning with the men's 6K followed by the women's 5K at 9 a.m. The meet will take place at the Clapp Cross Country Course, which will also be the site of the American Athletic Conference Championships Nov. 2.
"I'm looking forward to seeing another group open up their seasons," head coach Erik Stevens said. "We built solid momentum last weekend and through this week of practice. Saturday will be another opportunity to see where we are so we can really start to dial in the back half of the season."
Of the 11 student-athletes representing the Mean Green in Wichita, only Maggie Cuppett will run for a second consecutive weekend. The true freshman placed 17th at the UCA Bear XC Invitational, which was second among UNT's women at the meet.
Trinity Trotter and Aditi Silwal will kick off their sophomore seasons alongside Cuppett, while a trio of transfers will also make their debuts for North Texas.
London Culbreath was the prized signing of the offseason as the former Gatorade Texas Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year compiled 16 individual top-five finishes in the last two years at TCU. Meanwhile, Betty Bajika will make the transition to the Division I level after being an all-conference performer at West Texas A&M, and Ximena Lopez de Escalera joins the Mean Green after spending one season at Memphis.
On the men's side, Victor Neiva will make his first start of the season next to Connor Bartek, Alan Proenza, and freshmen Matthew Norton and Logan Tauch. Already the school record holder in the 8K and 10K, Neiva will look to solidify his legacy at UNT in his final season of eligibility. The two-time NCAA Championships qualifier is also a three-time all-conference performer and has earned all-region honors the last two seasons.
The JK Gold Classic will begin at 8 a.m. CT Saturday morning with the men's 6K followed by the women's 5K at 9 a.m. The meet will take place at the Clapp Cross Country Course, which will also be the site of the American Athletic Conference Championships Nov. 2.
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