Women's Cross Country 9/3/2025 2:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Open With Distance After Dark

Central Oklahoma Races Thursday Night In 2025 Debut

TULSA, Okla. – Central Oklahoma opens the 2025 cross country season Thursday night with Rogers State's annual Distance After Dark at Mohawk Sports Complex.

The 5k race will begin at 10 p.m. under the lights and is the first of six races this fall for the Bronchos.

"We're ready to get started," UCO head cross country coach Gus Schmader said. "We've been working hard for a few weeks now and ready to see where we measure against the competition. We have a mix of returners and newcomers and we are excited to see where we stand."

Tori McIntosh, Gabija Pukstas, Kylee Smith, Gianna Weatherspoon, Maya Winterburn, and Genevieve Young are all entered to race Thursday. Smith and Young are seniors, the other four will make their college debuts.

Smith enters her fourth year in the program and the Byng, Oklahoma native looks to improve on her career-best 21:57, which came in Joplin during her freshman season. In three 5Ks last season, Smith ran 23:52, 24:06, and 30:31.

Young is in her third year with the Bronchos but this fall will be her second in the cross country program. The Cache, Oklahoma native and former Cameron runner competed in 2023 and has a top 5K time of 19:44, set at Dallas Baptist. Young also ran at Missouri Southern that season and posted a time of 20:21 in Joplin.

McIntosh comes to UCO from Poway, California. She posted a 22:30 at the Southern Cal Invite last fall in her only 5k race of the season. Pukstas is from Stillwater, Oklahoma. She finished 15th at the 2024 Class 6A state championship in Edmond last fall with her 5k time of 19:05. Weatherspoon is from Oklahoma City and competed for Carl Albert. Her team competed for a 5A state title though she did not race in the event. Winterburn is from Flower Mound, Texas. Her high school squad won the Class 6A state championship last fall. She had a season-best 20:07 in the 5k.

Central Oklahoma will race again in two weeks at the annual Southern Stampede at Missouri Southern, and one week after that at the Cowboy Jamboree at Oklahoma State. UCO's lone regular season meet in October is the Old Glory Gallup at Dallas Baptist. The 2025 MIAA Women's Cross Country Championship is scheduled for Oct. 25 in Pittsburg, Kansas and the NCAA Central Region Championship is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Joplin, Missouri.

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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