Cross Country/Track & Field | 10/21/2025 12:26:00 PM

Chanute, KS - The Neosho County Community College Cross Country team swept the KJCCC Cross Country Athletes of the week this week after their performances at the Baker University Mike Spielman Classic. Noah Laird took the men's award and Bethany Barger the women's. See the full story from the conference offices below.

COLBY, Kan. – For the first time this season, the Neosho County Community College cross country team has swept the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week awards as Bethany Barger and Noah Laird have earned their first career honors.  
 
Bethany Barger (Neosho County) – KJCCC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Barger led the way for the Panthers as she has done all season, setting a new 6K record for Neosho County. The freshman placed fourth in her first 6K race of the season, finishing 12 seconds off a top-three finish on a course that challenged every runner in the race.
 
Noah Laird (Neosho County) – KJCCC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Laird finished as the top collegiate runner in the race and took second overall on a challenging course and difficult conditions with temperatures around 80 degrees at race time and stiff 20-25mph winds out of the south at the Baker University Mike Spielman Classic. The course featured three long 800m stretches directly into the wind as Laird finished 15 seconds ahead of the next closest collegiate runner in the race.