The Pratt Community College cross country team participated in the Southern Stampede hosted by Missouri Southern State University. Athletes from the men's and women's side faced off against colleges and universities from the NJCAA, NAIA, and NCAA division III level.

The lady Beavers competed in the women's 5000 meters competition. PCC placed ninth overall as a team.

Sophomore Aminata Kenyawani took second place in the women's individual by running a time of 18:42.4. Kenyawani finished first individually in her last competition at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. The PCC runner was less than 14 seconds short of a first place finish.

Shantierra Jackson was the closest teammate to Kenyawani. Jackson ran a time of 20:32.7. Jackson finished the day in fifty-second place out of 205 athletes.

"The girls raced really well for their first 5K of the season. We had plenty of personal bests on the girl's side," said head coach Eric Larson. "Ami had a fifty-five second personal best during a week where she was sick and missed quality training time. Shantierrra broke out and ran a twenty-one second personal best as well. The girls are right where they need to be this time of year."

The men competed in the 8000 meters competition. Pratt managed to finish seventeenth place. 

The men's side was led by Erick Estrada who finished sixtieth out of 227 competing athletes. Estrada was also the Beavers best placer during their last competition. Estrada finished with a time of 28:49.5. Behind Estrada was Kylan Wess who finished with a time of 29:51.9 for a ninety-sixth place finish individually.

"I am very proud of the guys. They raced in very warm weather conditions and got through it well. Practicing in the heat often definitely helped them out," said Larson. "Kylan had a huge personal best by running over two minutes faster than his previous best time last year. The freshmen competed well and now know what it is like to run an 8K. The guy's team average time was faster than any meet in the previous year. They are being challenged every day to be better."

PCC cross country competes next at the Emporia State University Invitational on Oct. 6. The race will begin at 9 a.m.