Greyhound XC Set to Toe the Line at Southern Stampede
FORT SCOTT, Kan. - Fort Scott men's & women's cross country is set to lace it up for the
first time in the 2023 season on Friday, Sept. 15th at the Southern Stampede hosted by Missouri
Southern State University an hour south in Joplin at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
The meet will take place on MSSU's campus with the women's college 5K race starting at 3:30
p.m. (CST), while the men's 8K race will toe the line at approximately 4:30 p.m. (CST). The
Greyhounds will compete against fellow NJCAA programs, as well as NCAA Div. III and NAIA
schools.
Meet information can be found here. A map of the women's 5K can be found here. The men's
8K map can be found here. A description of the entire course can be found here. Live results for
the Southern Stampede can be found here. A video of the course can be found here. Unique in its
construction, the course has a 5K loop on grass that finishes just south of the starting line through
a picturesque arch.
"As a program we are excited to see all of our XC student-athletes compete for the first time this
season," head cross country coach McKinley Ward-La Salle commented. "We are about six
weeks into them entering a new training program. I have different expectations across the board
individually, but as a whole I believe both the men's & women's squads will succeed in a race
environment."
On the women's end of things the Hounds are led by sophomores Chrystal Osawke and
Jacqulin Angel-Ruiz, both are runners who laced it up at NJCAA National Championships last
season. Fellow sophomores Icey Green and Aliyaha Heron will also don the Maroon & White,
with Green suiting up for the XC program for the first time in a meet day setting. True freshman
Rio Kirven will also lace it up for the first time.
"I am really impressed with both Chrystal and Jacqui's abilities to lead and anticipate them to do
the same on the course," coach Ward-La Salle noted. "Aliyaha and Icey are some wildcards for
us and I fully expect them to compete hard, as they have shown myself and head track coach
Philip Redrick their versatility as athletes. Rio is young and I think she has a lot of potential to
grow from her first ever collegiate race."
The Fort Scott men feature an entirely new roster in 2023. True freshmen Johnny Chavez,
Yahir Morales, Eduardo Espinoza and Darrell Bembry will each compete in their first
collegiate races this week. Sophomore Barton transfer Fabian Campbell, a 1:49 800m middle-
distance runner from Jamaica, will also represent the Greyhounds for the first time in his career.
"Since this is a completely new group of men I think we have the opportunity to set the tone for
the rest of the season this weekend," coach Ward-La Salle continued. "Our men have shown me
their desire to compete at practices and on long runs. I am expecting the energy to be the same on
meet day."