CLAREMORE, Okla. – Rogers State University Cross Country will host its annual RSU Distance After Dark race, presented by Armstrong Bank, on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa.
 
MEET INFORMATION | RACE NOTES
 
GEARING UP FOR THE LARGEST DISTANCE AFTER DARK
This year's event will feature a record 1,664 entries from high schools and colleges—more than 400 participants than in the previous year. All six defending team champions and runner-up programs will be represented, along with 38 athletes who finished in the top 10 of their respective races last year. A total of 73 high schools and colleges will participate.
 
HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
The 2026 Distance After Dark event will showcase an exciting lineup of high school races, featuring 1,664 participants—894 males and 770 females—from 54 schools.
 
The action begins at 7:45 p.m. with the 2A-4A Girls competing in a 2-mile race, followed by the 2A-4A Boys at 8:15 p.m. in the 5,000 meters. The 5A-6A Girls will race at 8:50 p.m., and the 5A-6A Boys will conclude the evening at 9:25 p.m.
 
"The lineup and competition are high quality this year at the high school level," said Matt Kennedy, head coach of the Rogers State cross country and track and field teams. "There are six defending Oklahoma state champion teams, 13 state podium teams, and four reigning individual state champions—all will be in attendance."
 
Kennedy added, "We have athletes who won state titles last year, like Ava Cornelius from Owasso, now at Tulsa, and Carter Gibson, who won the 5A state title and is now at Rogers State. There are many storylines and rematches of close races and tight finishes that I think will be really exciting."
 
At the high school level, the number of entries has grown by 246 since last year, with 1,226 runners set to compete this year. Defending team champions Metro Christian (2A-4A girls), Wyandotte (2A-4A boys), Jenks (5A-6A girls), and Lincoln Christian (5A-6A boys) will return to Tulsa, along with all runners-up from 2025. Individual champions Ryleigh Hodges (Metro Christian, defending girls 2A-4A champion) and Sam Cox (Rejoice Christian, defending boys 2A-4A champion) will also compete.
 
COLLEGE INFORMATION
The evening will conclude with college races featuring 438 entries from 19 college programs, including current and former Rogers State athletes, as well as unattached participants.
 
The women's 5,000 meters will start at 10 p.m., followed by the men's 4-mile race at 10:30 p.m. Notably, NCAA Division I University of Tulsa and MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) powerhouse Pittsburg State will join the field for the first time this year.
 
"We've seen some growth in the college race," said Kennedy. "We're welcoming some conference friends, and the University of Tulsa is sending a squad over. We have the usual participants and a few new faces as well. The college race entries are up nearly 70% compared to last year—259 entrants in 2025 and now 438."
 
HILLCAT WOMEN AIM FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT VICTORY
Rogers State is poised to pursue its fifth consecutive title at the Mohawk Sports Complex. In 2025, the Hillcats claimed the team championship with a total score of 24, surpassing Oklahoma Baptist (82), Oklahoma City (129), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (148).
 
Amy Morefield made a remarkable debut for the Red and Navy, becoming the first Hillcat to win the women's 5K with a time of 17:35.7. She went on to have one of the best individual seasons in program history. The Fairview, Texas, native etched her name in the RSU cross country record books as the current school record holder in the women's 6K (21:08.27), highest-ever finisher at the NCAA Central Region Championship (5th), and tied for best finish at the MIAA Championships (4th). Additionally, Morefield is an all-region runner, an All-MIAA First Team finisher, and was named MIAA Athlete of the Week, becoming just the second Hillcat to receive that honor.
 
Also for the Hillcats last year, Jordan Wallace secured fifth place at 17:55.5, while Brooklyn Garafola followed closely in sixth with a time of 17:56.6. Kaylee Nay completed the top 10 for Rogers State, finishing ninth in 18:09.1. Emily Cruz achieved a personal best of 18:19.4, securing 11th place.
 
The Hillcats also welcomed several former athletes to the alumni team, with Brianna Stinnett leading the way in eighth place. Ashley Riggenbach finished 25th and Madison Bradshaw came in 74th.
 
RSU MEN LOOK TO BUILD ON IMPRESSIVE SHOWING IN 2025
The Rogers State men's cross country team secured third place for the second consecutive year at a competitive race last season that featured 11 teams, finishing with a total score of 76. Oklahoma Christian claimed the title with a score of 52, while Mid-America Christian took second with 63 points.
 
Nathaneal Gibson, an RSU alum competing for the RSU Alumni Team, delivered a historic performance during his senior campaign in 2025. He recorded a personal best time of 20:17.7, becoming the first male athlete from RSU to win the men's race.
 
Following Gibson, senior Blake Feron finished 15th with a time of 21:07.3. Additionally, Cohen McIntosh placed 19th, while Lee Davis achieved a personal best of 21:18.8, finishing in 20th. Jack Morgan crossed the line in 21st place.
 
Freshman Carter Gibson will compete at Distance After Dark for the first time as a college athlete after finishing seventh at the event last year and then winning the 5A state championship.
 
For more information on Distance After Dark, visit Distance After Dark - Rogers State University Athletics.