CLAREMORE, Okla. – Hillcat Men's Cross Country will kick off its 2026 season by hosting the Distance After Dark race on Thursday, Sept. 3. The event is scheduled to begin at 10:30 p.m. under the lights at the Mohawk Sports Complex in Tulsa.
 
DISTANCE AFTER DARK INFORMATION
The annual Distance After Dark meet, sponsored by Armstrong Bank, is set for Thursday, Sept. 3, at Mohawk Sports Complex.
 
"This year will feature the biggest Distance After Dark to date, and we are very excited," commented head coach Matt Kennedy. "The high school races will feature rematches from last year that will be exciting, and the college race will also be more competitive than it has been before with the addition of Tulsa and Pittsburg State to the field. It will be a lot of fun from start to finish."
 
MEET INFORMATION | RACE NOTES
 
This year's event has drawn a record 1,664 entries from high schools and colleges, representing an increase of more than 400 participants compared to last year. All six defending team champions, along with runner-up programs, will compete, and 38 athletes who finished in the top 10 of their respective races last year will also participate. A total of 73 high schools and colleges are involved.
 
The college races will feature 438 entries from 19 programs, including current and former athletes from Rogers State, as well as unattached competitors.
 
The men's 4-mile race is scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. For the first time, NCAA Division I's University of Tulsa and MIAA powerhouse Pittsburg State will join the competition.
 
In last year's meet, the Rogers State men's cross country team secured third place for the second consecutive year, finishing with a score of 76. Oklahoma Christian took the title with a score of 52, followed by Mid-America Christian with 63 points.
 
Nathaneal Gibson had a historic run in 2025, recording a personal best of 20:17.7 and becoming the first male athlete from RSU to win the men's race. He was followed by senior Blake Feron, who finished 15th in 21:07.3, while Cohen McIntosh placed 19th, and Lee Davis achieved a personal best of 21:18.8 in 20th.
 
In addition to the college races, Distance After Dark will host one of the state's largest 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 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., concluding with the 5A-6A boys at 9:25 p.m.

For more information and the latest news on Distance After Dark, visit Distance After Dark - Rogers State University Athletics.
 
PRESEASON REPORT
The 2026 men's cross country team will consist of 14 returnees and 13 newcomers, including nine freshmen and four transfers.
 
Training began on Aug. 14, and the team has already demonstrated strong chemistry in the early stages of the season.
 
"You can only really gather so much from the preseason, but it's been really good," said head coach Matt Kennedy. "I think the team has made significant progress. Almost half of our roster is new, so you would expect some growing pains and difficulties, but that hasn't really been the case. They've come together quickly and well, which is encouraging."
 
REMAINING SCHEDULE PREVIEW
**SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

Following Distance After Dark, the Hillcats will head to Joplin, Missouri, for the MSSU Southern Stampede on Sept. 19, with the race scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. Last season, Rogers State finished eighth in a competitive field of 26 teams, with five runners achieving personal bests. Leading the men's team was Gibson, who placed 23rd, followed by Cade McCall in 32nd and Clint Stapleton in 61st.
 
The following week, RSU will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Augustana Invitational on Sept. 25. The NCAA Central Region Championships will be held at Yankton Trail Park on Nov. 21. Last season, RSU finished 11th in the 10K with a score of 358, marking their best result since 2017. Gibson led the Hillcats with a 49th-place finish, while McCall finished 57th.
 
RSU will return to the University of Arkansas for the 38th Annual Chili Pepper Festival on Oct. 3, with start times to be announced. Last year, McIntosh led the Hillcats with an 18th-place finish in the men's 8K, followed by Jack Morgan in 27th and Davis in 29th, helping the team secure a fourth-place finish in a 24-team race.
 
The following week, the team will decide between the John Brown Invitational in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, on Oct. 10, or the Pre-Nationals race in Lawrence, Kansas, on Oct. 11. The regular season will wrap up at the UAH Chargers XC Invitational D2 Festival Year Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, on Oct. 24.
 
The MIAA Championships will take place at the MWSU Cross Country Course in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Nov. 7, returning to a site that hosted the championships in 2024. Last season, Rogers State finished eighth with a score of 188, and Gibson earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention with a 13th-place finish.
 
After the regional meet in Sioux Falls on Nov. 21, the 2026 season will conclude with the NCAA Division II Championships on Dec. 4 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence. Rogers State aims to qualify for the NCAA Championship meet for the first time on the men's side since 2017.
 
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
RSU earned a total of 60 points and was picked seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll, finishing ahead of Missouri Western (54 points), Central Missouri (45 points), Emporia State (40 points), Newman (19 points) and Arkansas-Fort Smith (15 points). The Hillcats finished eighth at the MIAA Championships last year in Pittsburg, Kansas.
 
"On both sides, the men and women are tough," Kennedy said about the MIAA. "We had a strong showing at the conference meet last year and even beat some teams at the regional meet that finished ahead of us at conference." He added, "The word of the year is consistency. If we can stay consistent and carry that into November, we can really make some moves at the conference and regional meets with this group."

Pittsburg State was selected to win the conference with 111 points and five first-place votes, followed by Washburn with 108 points and three first-place votes. Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern tied for third in the poll with 90 points each.
 
MEET COACH KENNEDY
Kennedy completed his sixth season at Rogers State in 2025–26.
 
Last year, Kennedy guided the Hillcats to a strong showing in the 2025 campaign. The women's team finished as the runner-up at the MIAA Championships for the second consecutive season and reached a program-best No. 16 in the USTFCCCA national poll. The men's team also excelled, finishing 11th at the Central Region Championships, their best finish since 2017.
 
In 2024, Kennedy led the Hillcat women's cross country team to a historic top-5 finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships and the program's first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He was named MIAA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding the team to a runner-up finish at the conference meet.

Since his arrival, RSU has become the most improved women's cross country teams in Division II, climbing from a 30th-place regional finish in 2019 (prior to Kennedy's tenure) to 16^th in the nation in 2025.

Kennedy has now qualified two separate programs from Oklahoma and the Central Region to the NCAA Championships. At Oklahoma Baptist, he led the Bison women to back-to-back national appearances in 2017 and 2018, won four Great American Conference titles, and was named GAC Coach of the Year four times. His teams spent 20 consecutive weeks in the national rankings, peaking at No. 11, and consistently finished among the region's top five.

Kennedy's coaching career spans nearly two decades and includes prior stops at Oklahoma Baptist, Friends University, and Midwestern State.

He holds a B.S. from Midwestern State University and a Master's in Education from East Central University.
 
MEET THE TEAM: RETURNERS
The Hillcats return 14 student-athletes for the 2026 season.
 
McCall is set for his final season on the Hill. The Glenpool native opened the last season with a strong 35th-place finish at Distance After Dark. The following week at the Southern Stampede, he set a personal record (PR) in the 8K with a time of 25:14.9, finishing 32nd in a competitive field. After a solid 40th-place finish at the MIAA Championships, McCall notched a PR in the 10K at the NCAA Central Region Championships with a time of 32:29.3, finishing 58th.
 
"Well, you could describe Cade as our team's rock," Kennedy remarked on the senior. "He leads by example. He's not loud, but he's always present. His development, coming off what he did in track season, sets him up for what I think is going to be his best cross country season yet. He placed well in the outdoor 10K, finishing in the top eight and running a personal best in the 10,000 meters. He just keeps grinding. He keeps showing up, and that is what is necessary in the sport."
 
McIntosh returns for his sophomore campaign after an impressive start to his collegiate career in 2025. The Piedmont native competed in five races, achieving a season-best 18th-place finish at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival. McIntosh set a PR in the 8K with a time of 25:58.2 at the Southern Stampede and posted a time of 33:05.4 in the 10K, finishing 83rd at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships.
 
Davis is back after a strong showing in 2025. The Cookville, Texas, native competed in five races, setting PRs in three of them. He opened the season with a top-20 finish and a PR at Distance After Dark, followed by a PR and a 68th-place finish at the Southern Stampede. At the NCAA Central Region Championships, he finished 99th with a PR time of 33:23.8 in the 10K.
 
Morgan, after battling injuries in his first year, had a breakout redshirt freshman season. The Elk City native began the season with a 21st-place finish in the 4M at Distance After Dark. He followed with a 63rd-place finish at the Southern Stampede (PR), a 55th-place finish at the MIAA Championships, and an 88th-place finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships.
 
Aidan Jimenez enters his junior campaign in 2026 after competing in four races last season. The Oklahoma City native set a PR of 26:35.5 in the 8K at the Southern Stampede and finished 66th at the MIAA Championships.

Stapleton enters his junior season after a strong performance in 2025. The Oologah native ran in four races, finishing 28th in the 4M at Distance After Dark with a PR time of 21:31.7. He also set a PR in the 8K at the Southern Stampede with a time of 25:52.7.
 
Tanner Jenks competed in six races during his freshman year, placing 54th at the MIAA Championships and finishing 115th at the NCAA Central Region Championships as a member of the NCAA Region team.
 
Tesfaye Lire returns for his second season after competing in three races last year, recording a season-best 57th-place finish at Distance After Dark.
 
Riley Pauley also begins his sophomore season, representing the Red and Navy. The Piedmont native ran in four races, earning a season-best 46th-place finish in the season opener at Distance After Dark.
 
Adam Sium returns for his second year on the Hill, competing in three meets. His best finish last season was in the 8K, where he set a PR of 27:26.5 at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
 
Colton Storm will compete in his final cross-country season in 2025. The Owasso native ran in two races last season, highlighted by a PR in the 8K with a time of 27:59.5 at the Southern Stampede.
 
Jaxson Wheeler returns for his second season in 2026. The Moore native competed in three races last year, achieving a season-best 56th-place finish at the Golden Eagle Invitational and setting a PR in the 8K at the Southern Stampede with a time of 27:22.8.
 
Also returning and hitting the course for the first time this season are redshirt freshman Karsen Hennigh (Chisholm, Okla.) and Sam Russell (Moore, Okla.).

Additionally on the returners, Kennedy stated, "The outdoor track season is an opportunity for us to set the tone for what summer training is going to look like. Because of the outdoor track season, we're now looking at who has the spotlight on them in a different way for cross country. Through their development in track, we've realized that these athletes are expected to contribute.
 
Several of those athletes, including Aidan, Clint, Jack, and Lee, ran exceptionally well at a recent meet at WASHU in St. Louis, despite the less-than-perfect weather conditions. A number of them clocked times in the 15 lows. They return this year a year older than they were last fall and will be leaned on in ways they weren't last year. However, they're prepared for it. They've competed in big meets and have achieved strong performances when it mattered, so they should be ready for the moment."
 
MEET THE TEAM: NEWCOMERS
The Hillcats will welcome 13 newcomers, comprised of four transfers and nine freshmen.
 
Senior Ethan Banks joins the program from Oklahoma Baptist, where he was an all-conference runner for the Bison in 2024. The Elk City native competed in just one cross country race last season at the Great American Conference Championships, finishing 43rd in the 8K with a time of 26:09.2.
 
"Ethan had a great year in 2025 at Oklahoma Baptist," Kennedy said. "He and Jack Morgan, who both went to Elk City, were able to work together and train over the summer, which I think has really benefited both of them. Now they're here together as teammates, and I expect Ethan to really contribute to our varsity, to our top group."
 
Thomas Kubala comes to the Hill from Odessa Community College after previously beginning his career at Oklahoma State. The Conroe, Texas, native competed in five races in 2025, including five top-20 finishes. He finished eighth at the NJCAA Region V Championships after notching a personal record in the 8K with a time of 24:21.2. He wrapped up his time in Odessa with a 48th-place finish at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
"Thomas has been one of our transfers who really stood out right when he stepped on campus," Kennedy said about Kubala. "He has shown flashes of something special, and we are excited to see where he is at in November."
 
Noah Laird is a junior transfer from Neosho County Community College. The Oxted, United Kingdom, native competed in seven races last season, including Distance After Dark, where he finished 39th with a time of 21:46.7. Laird capped off 2025 with a 97th-place finish at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
Junior Jaden Perry joins the program from Neosho County Community College. The Chelsea native opened his sophomore campaign with an 80th-place finish at Distance After Dark. His seven-race season ended with a 153rd-place finish at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
Incoming freshmen include Eli Batie (Tahlequah, Okla.), Lewis Cross (Silo, Okla.), Carter Gibson (Claremore, Okla.), Trevor Hacker (Tulsa, Okla.), Josiah Long (Pryor, Okla.), Julian Powers (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Cruz Sanchez (Marlow, Okla.), Peyton Sanders (Tulsa, Okla.), Thomas Williams (Marlow, Okla.), and Luke Worthington (Oklahoma City, Okla.).
 
FINAL WORDS FROM COACH KENNEDY
"Step one for the men is to become a unit, growing closer together as they meet new faces, and they've made great progress in that area. The second step is to start stacking weeks. Summer training is over, move-in week has passed, recovery week is behind us, classes have begun, and we're now in the grind. Our first meet is this week, and things are starting to happen. Now it's about consistency in the process.
 
If all goes well, I believe we're in a good position with our returning athletes and the new additions to make a greater impact at the conference and regional meets than last year. I expect this progress will reflect in the rankings, our performance, and our overall finish.
 
I'm excited because every year something unexpected happens, and someone surprises us. I'm anxious to see who that will be and to watch it all unfold."