Pratt Community College and the Director of Cross Country, Track and Field Mathew Scott is excited to announce the 2023 cross country schedule. The team will open their season at the Neosho County Community College early bird meet on August 25 in Chanute, KS. Traditionally the team has opened their season with the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic which will take place on September 1st.  

"It will be a good idea to start at Neosho County since it will be shorter distances than the traditional distance of four miles. Starting with the traditional distances took a couple freshman off guard last season," said Coach Scott.  

The Beavers will then compete at the Missouri Southern Stampede on September 15 in Joplin, MO before heading back to the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, AR on September 29. The team will wrap up their regular season on October 14 at the Allen County Invite on October 14 in Iola, KS  

"As we put together our schedule, we try to mimic the national course a little bit. So, if it is a hilly course have a few more hills in there and then we try and keep the schedule in state," said Coach Scott. "Chile Pepper is just a really good meet and Missouri Southern has a very similar course to what the national course is going to be like." 

Pratt will return to Iola, KS at the end of October for the NJCAA Region VI/KJCCC Cross Country Championships on October 28. They will then travel to Huntsville, Al in November for the NJCAA Cross Country Championships on November 11 and the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships on November 14.  

"It is going to be a new crew, so you have to be tempered in your expectations, but I do see one of those freshman women placing pretty high towards the end of the season," said Coach Scott. "Jace Baker will be the top returner as we graduated pretty much everyone else. I expect, if we get the numbers, our men's team to finish in the top 25.