Women's Cross Country 10/11/2026 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Finishes 14th At National Preview

Bronchos Get Three Top 20 6k Times In Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Central Oklahoma raced to a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet Sunday morning at Kansas University's Rim Rock Farm.

The Bronchos had the chance to preview the track of this year's NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in December. It was the first 6k race of the season for the Bronchos.

No. 3-ranked Colorado School of Mines took the team title with 84 points, one ahead of Western Colorado. No. 7 UC Colorado Springs finished third, No. 9 Missouri Southern finished fourth, and No. 10 Pittsburg State finished fifth.

UCO was the sixth MIAA team out of nine that competed. Nebraska Kearney, Northwest Missouri and Washburn also finished ahead of the Bronchos. UCO outran Newman, Missouri Western, and Emporia State.

Lily Melton led the way for the Bronchos as she has all season. The sophomore raced to a 23:01 finish. Chloe Ezell was right behind her at 23:07.

Those two all entered new Top 20 6k times in UCO history. Melton's time is the 12th-best and Ezell's the 14th-best in program history.

Gabija Pukstas was close behind those two with a 23:25. She tied the 20th-best mark on UCO's Top 20 list.

Reagan Jones (23:59), Ariane Williams (24:29), Julia Trost (24:40), Rilee Shea (24:41), Hadlee Mann (25:05), and Maya Winterburn (26:14) also ran on Sunday morning.

UCO canceled its trip to Oklahoma State next weekend in lieu of the chance to race in the national preview this weekend. The Bronchos now turn their attention to the MIAA Championships Nov. 7 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

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Players Mentioned

Gabija Pukstas: Sophomore

Ariane Williams: Senior

Maya Winterburn: Sophomore

Lily Melton: Sophomore

Chloe Ezell: Junior

Hadlee Mann: Freshman

Rilee Shea: Freshman

Julia Trost: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gabija Pukstas
: Sophomore

Ariane Williams
: Senior

Maya Winterburn
: Sophomore

Lily Melton
: Sophomore

Chloe Ezell
: Junior

Hadlee Mann
: Freshman

Rilee Shea
: Freshman

Julia Trost
: Freshman