Cross Country/Track & Field | 9/2/2025 3:28:00 PM

Hutchinson, KS - The Neosho County Men's and Women's Cross Country teams kicked off their season at the Annual Terry Masterson Twilight meet hosted by Hutchinson Community College at the Fun Valley Sports Complex in Hutchinson Kansas. The Women's team enters the season as the #25 team in the preseason coaches poll and the Men's team enters the season RV. Both teams faced stiff competition in against 2 very highly ranked Division 1 Junior College teams in Garden City and Host Hutchinson Community College. Competition at this first meet is alway a great test to get the year started off right. The Men's team was led by Sophomore Noah Laird who finished inside the top 30 in 26th place, the women's team was led by fellow sophomore Melania Turaga who came away just shy of squeaking inside the top 20 in 22nd place.

"Both men's and women's teams had great nights to start off the season. Both the men's and women's teams are ahead of where we were last year, and both of those teams made the National Championship race in Richmond, Virginia. We are excited and want an opportunity at the end of the season to represent the College at the National Championships in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It is really exciting to see us already doing so well this early, we have a long way to go and didn't even scratch the surface at this meet, we have a number of athletes yet to even compete that will help us be that much better." Said Coach Bruton the Head XC and T&F Coach at Neosho County Community College.

Next up for the Panthers is another night Meet at Rogers State University down in Tulas, OK on Thursday, September 4th.

Results