Cross Country Teams Have Strong Showings at Gans Creek Classic
Sep 26, 2025 | Cross Country
COLUMBIA, MO – Tulane's cross country teams delivered two strong finishes in the first road test of the season on Friday morning at the Gans Creek Classic from the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri. The Green Wave were led individually by Bernard Cheruiyot for the men and Blezzin Kimutai for the women.
The men, behind the strong running of Cheruiyot, placed 11th overall of 32 teams in the prestigious 8K Gold with 365 points and an average time of 23:30.6 per runner. The program, who came in ranked No. 23 in the country, bested seven ranked teams in the competition including No. 7 Stanford.
Cheruiyot ran a 22:32.4 to place third overall. His time is the third-fastest ever recorded on the course. Silas Kiptanui was the squad's second finisher with his 23:22.7 (48th overall). Rogerio Amaral was the third member of the squad to cross the finish line in 23:45.7 (94th overall). The other finishers for Tulane were Illia Kunin (96th – 23:47.2), Gilbert Rono (132nd – 24:05.0), Tommy Rice (144th – 24:09.1) and Juan Giron (167th – 24:17.7).
The program also saw Daniel Reza (157th – 25:13.7) and Henry Hammel (232nd – 26:27.3) race in the 8K Black .
The women's team started their day placing 14th of 31 teams in the ultra-competitive 6K Gold. The field sported 16 ranked programs in competition. The Green Wave finished higher than three of the ranked programs and were only a point from reaching No. 16 Michigan State. Tulane totaled 403 points overall with an average of 20:37.9 per runner.
The women were led in the Gold Invitational by Blezzin Kimutai (42nd – 20:11.2). Dorcas Naibei was the squad's second finisher (44th – 20:14.1). Haley Harper was next for the Green Wave (103rd – 20:52.6). She was followed by Alex Sharp (107th – 20:54.4), Petra Dos Santos (112th – 20:57.4), Dana Rojas Vazquez (135th – 21:09.5), Elena Liano-Rengel (160th – 21:24.3) and Reese Ragland (182nd – 21:38.5).
The program finished the day with Janae Dean (43rd – 21:37.2) and Allison Hall (84th – 22.08.1) racing in the 6K Black.
Up next, the teams will compete on October 4 at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
---TulaneGreenWave.com---
The men, behind the strong running of Cheruiyot, placed 11th overall of 32 teams in the prestigious 8K Gold with 365 points and an average time of 23:30.6 per runner. The program, who came in ranked No. 23 in the country, bested seven ranked teams in the competition including No. 7 Stanford.
Cheruiyot ran a 22:32.4 to place third overall. His time is the third-fastest ever recorded on the course. Silas Kiptanui was the squad's second finisher with his 23:22.7 (48th overall). Rogerio Amaral was the third member of the squad to cross the finish line in 23:45.7 (94th overall). The other finishers for Tulane were Illia Kunin (96th – 23:47.2), Gilbert Rono (132nd – 24:05.0), Tommy Rice (144th – 24:09.1) and Juan Giron (167th – 24:17.7).
The program also saw Daniel Reza (157th – 25:13.7) and Henry Hammel (232nd – 26:27.3) race in the 8K Black .
The women's team started their day placing 14th of 31 teams in the ultra-competitive 6K Gold. The field sported 16 ranked programs in competition. The Green Wave finished higher than three of the ranked programs and were only a point from reaching No. 16 Michigan State. Tulane totaled 403 points overall with an average of 20:37.9 per runner.
The women were led in the Gold Invitational by Blezzin Kimutai (42nd – 20:11.2). Dorcas Naibei was the squad's second finisher (44th – 20:14.1). Haley Harper was next for the Green Wave (103rd – 20:52.6). She was followed by Alex Sharp (107th – 20:54.4), Petra Dos Santos (112th – 20:57.4), Dana Rojas Vazquez (135th – 21:09.5), Elena Liano-Rengel (160th – 21:24.3) and Reese Ragland (182nd – 21:38.5).
The program finished the day with Janae Dean (43rd – 21:37.2) and Allison Hall (84th – 22.08.1) racing in the 6K Black.
Up next, the teams will compete on October 4 at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
---TulaneGreenWave.com---
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