CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State men's and women's cross country will open the 2022 season at home for the first time in program history on Thursday.
 
The Hillcats will host the inaugural RSU Invitational at Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa, Okla. on Thursday, Sept. 1. In addition to both RSU teams, the meet will feature teams from Missouri Southern, East Central and John Brown. The men's 6k race is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. with the women's 4k race to follow at 9 a.m.
 
"I'm looking forward to getting the season underway," said head coach Matt Kennedy. "The women return a solid core, and this is a season we've been looking forward to. I've enjoyed watching the women grow together the last couple weeks, and I'm excited to watch them put it together in a race. Expectations are high and I'm excited we have a group that leans into it."
 
The Hillcat women's team returns all 13 runners from last season and adds two newcomers in Ronnie Jones and Annabel White, with all 15 runners hailing from the state of Oklahoma. Last year, RSU completed one of their best seasons as they set seven out of the top 10 5k times and four of the top 10 6k times in school history and finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Central Regional as team for first time in program history. In fact, Jillian Skalicky broke the school record in both the 5k and 6k in 2021. This season, the Hillcats were picked to finish fifth in the MIAA Preseason Poll with a first place vote and were 10th in the USTFCCCA Preseason Regional Rankings.
 
"Most importantly for the men we just simply need to get healthy" Kennedy continued. "We return a strong group of core leaders and have added exceptionally talented freshmen to the mix. The men should improve from last year and I'm excited to see that process begin on Thursday."


On the men's side, RSU returns 14 runners from last season and adds a talented group of six freshmen and one transfer. They will be forced to replace one of their top runners from 2021, as they lost Garrison Blanton to graduation. However, the Hillcats return most of the group that set two of the top 10 8k times and five of the top 10k times in school history. This season, RSU was picked to finish 9th in the MIAA Preseason Poll.
 
"Of course, there are many unknowns in the preseason and we're not going to take any unnecessary risks in the season opener, but our athletes could not be more excited to open at home for the first time," concluded Kennedy.