University of Missouri
Gans Creek Classic
James Leads Tigers to Third-Straight Top-Five Finish
9/27/2024 2:30:00 PM | Cross Country
James, Broemmel led the way for Mizzou for second time this season
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri cross country saw its men's team garner a third-consecutive top-five finish while the women notched 10th place during the sixth annual Gans Creek Classic on Friday morning at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, home of the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Junior Ryder James led the way for Mizzou, earning 11th-place during the men's DI 8k race to notch a second top-20 finish this season. MU was one of two schools who placed five runners inside the top 50, scoring 180 team points. On the women's side, sophomore Rahel Broemmel took the top spot for the Tigers for the third time, finishing in 20:25.2, good for 16th place.
"I think our team is really starting to find our identity and own it," said head cross country coach Kyle Levermore. "We have started to really focus on running together. I am really proud of everything this group accomplished today and I'm excited for us to continue growing as we prepare for our next meet in a few weeks."
James' pace of 23:24.8 improved on his 2023 Gans Creek Classic time by over a minute (24:37.3) to lead the team. He was joined by Drew Rogers in the top 30, who finished 26th in 23:44.4. Stanford took the team title, as Mizzou came home fourth with finishes of 11th, 26th, 46th, 51st and 52nd.
The women's 6k followed with Missouri's Broemmel topping the timing charts for the Black & Gold, doing so in each race this season. Her 20:24.2 standing was good enough to finish 16th overall, as Auburn's Brenda Kepchirchir (19:50.1) won the race after leading from start to finish.
The Stanford women clinched a sweep for the Cardinal as they placed four runners inside the top 10. The Mizzou women garnered a 10th-place finish amongst the 38 schools competing, claiming 336 points (16-52-77-91-127).
The 2024 rendition of the event marked the largest Gans Creek Classic in history, as the Tigers continued their season with the second and final home meet. A total of 63 schools from across the country, including seven from the Southeastern Conference, competed in the men's and women's races.
TOP TIGERS
- James and Broemmel led the way for the Tigers in the division one races, each claiming new program records at Gans Creek.
- All 10 men runners who competed in the DI 8k race accomplished personal bests.
- Broemmel, joined by Nicole Louw (21:08.2) and Hannah Stuart (22:05.7), achieved 6K personal bests Friday morning.
- James smashed his career 8k mark, a 24:36.7 at the XC23 College & Open (Oct. 14, 2023).
- Declan Tunney, in his first 8k race of the year, set a collegiate best of 24:08.1 to finish in 51st.
MEN'S DI 8k RESULTS – Fourth Place (180 points, 11-26-46-51-52)
Ryder James, 23:24.8 (11th) // Drew Rogers, 23:44.4 (26th) // Blake Morris, 24:02.7 (46th) // Tyler Freiner, 24:07.7 (51st) // Declan Tunney, 24:08.1 (52nd) // Joshua Allison, 24:13.2 (57th) // Jamie Mora, 24:23.2 (70th) // Brenden Heitzig, 24:55.5. (143rd) // Angus Beer, 24:56.8 (147th) // Trevor Peimann, 25:54.2 (249th)
WOMEN'S DI 6k RESULTS – 10th Place (336 points, 16-52-77-91-127)
Rahel Broemmel, 20:25.2 (16th) // Nicole Louw, 21:08.2 (52nd) // McKenna Revord, 21:25.2 (77th) // Charlotte Cullen, 21:32.1 (92nd) // Allison Newman, 21:49.9 (128th) // Hannah Stuart, 22:05.7 (157th) // Kaia Downs, 22:16.3 (170th) // Elissa Barnard, 22:39.2 (209th) // Carolyn Ford, 23:03.6 (244th) // Renee Lewis, 24:41.3 (317th)
MEN'S 8k OPEN RESULTS
Andrew Hauser, 24:54.2 (25th) // Joseph Bariola, 24:56.3 (27th) // Finnian Russell, 25:01.2 (35th) // Colby Revord, 25:04.6 (39th) // Carter Spradling, 25:10.9 (44th) // Sam Golla, 25:16.8 (57th) // River Hardman, 25:27.0 (72nd) // Ethan Lee, 25:28.2 (73rd) // Royce Fisher, 25:30.0 (76th) // Johnny Martin, 25:47.1 (105th) // Andrew Simard, 25:47.4 (106th)
WOMEN'S 8k OPEN RESULTS
Abbey Brackenbury, 22:50.3 (52nd) // Natalie Barnard, DNF
UP NEXT
The Tigers begins preparation for their final regular season race of the campaign as they head to the Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the Crimson Classic on Oct. 18.
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Players Mentioned
