Women's Cross Country 9/20/2025 9:45:00 AM Chris Brannick

Gabija Pukstas Leads Bronchos Again In Joplin

Central Oklahoma Finishes 19th, Freshman Is High Finisher At 42nd

JOPLIN, Mo. – Central Oklahoma returned to the course Saturday morning with Missouri Southern State's annual Southern Stampede at Tom Rutledge Course and the Bronchos finished the 5k race 19th out of more than 30 schools.

Pittsburg State won the team event, edging host Missouri Southern by 15 points. Rogers State, East Central, and Oklahoma Baptist rounded out the top five.

"We ran good today despite some external factors," UCO head cross country coach Gus Schmader said. "We delayed due to weather and didn't get to warm up, but we ran good despite that."

Freshman Gabija Pukstas finished the 5k race in 19:08. That mark is two seconds off her collegiate debut earlier this month in Tulsa and four seconds off a Top 20 mark in UCO's record book. The rookie from Stillwater has ran two 5ks with times of 19:06 and 19:08 this season.

Seniors Genevieve Young (21:26.57) and Kylee Smith (21:52.78) were close together and Central's other three freshman were grouped together as well. Maya Winterburn (22:22.57), Gianna Weatherspoon (22:40.91), and Tori McIntosh (22:55.86) also ran Saturday for the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma will race back-to-back weekends with Oklahoma State's Cowboy Jamboree next on the schedule. The race is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26 at 8:15 a.m. in Stillwater. UCO will then take two weeks off before racing in Texas in October.

Pittsburg State is hosting the MIAA Cross Country Championships Oct. 25 and the Bronchos will return to Joplin for the NCAA Central Region Championships Nov. 8 at MSSU's Tom Rutledge Course.

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Players Mentioned

Kylee Smith: 5' 1"; Senior

Maya Winterburn: 5' 4"; Freshman

Gianna Weatherspoon: 5' 3"; Freshman

Gabija Pukstas: 5' 7"; Freshman

Genevieve Young: 5' 3"; Senior

Tori McIntosh: 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kylee Smith
: 5' 1"; Senior

Maya Winterburn
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Gianna Weatherspoon
: 5' 3"; Freshman

Gabija Pukstas
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Genevieve Young
: 5' 3"; Senior

Tori McIntosh
: 5' 5"; Freshman