Season Opener for Emporia State Cross Country On Tap

Hornet Cross Country heads to JK Gold Classic

2025 Emporia State Cross Country Notes Graphic at JK Gold

Men's Cross Country | 9/4/2025 10:30:00 AM

Emporia State Cross Country
at JK Gold Classic

Clapp Park • Wichita, Kan
Saturday, September 6 • Men's 6K at 8:00 a.m./Women's 5K at 9:00 a.m.
Live Results | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Greeno-Dirksen Invitational
Saturday, September 20 • 10:00 a.m.
Mahoney Golf Course • Lincoln, Neb.

LET'S GET IT STARTED
Emporia State opens the 2025 cross country season at the 77th Annual J.K. Gold Classic hosted by Wichita State at the Clapp Cross Country Course in Wichita.  It is the first of four regular season meets scheduled for the Hornets. Emporia State will not have a home meet for the first time since the 1981 season.

MIAA PRESEASON POLLS
The MIAA released the 2025 Cross Country Coaches Polls and the Emporia State women are ranked eighth and the men tenth to start the season.
The Hornet men return three of their top four runners from last season.  Sophomore Dylan Hunter was the top finisher for Emporia State at both the MIAA Championships and the NCAA Central Regional.
Three of the top five Emporia State women return led by Mason Bina. The senior was the top finisher for Emporia State in all six of her races last season.

LAST TIME OUT
The Emporia State cross country team welcomed the community to Champions Landing for a time trial and fun run.
Dylan Hunter of the men's cross country team led all runners with a time of 9:52 over the two mile course. He was followed by Carson Fouard in 10:21 and Lucas Kreutzer in 10:24.  Evan Benoit ran 10:32 and Darren Klukas was clocked in 10:42 for the top five runners for the Hornets.
Mason Bina ran 12:21 to lead the women's runners. Elizabeth Willhite ran 12:33 to edge Emma Bartholome for second place. Brooklyn Nolte placed fourth in 12:37 with Heidi Grimmett running 13:42 to round out the top five for the Emporia State women.
Times were only kept for the members of the cross country teams but they were joined by a large group of non-cross country runners including the Lady Hornet basketball team and Emporia State Athletic Director Steve Rodecap.  Micah Hanna was the top finisher for the Lady Hornet hoopsters.

THE COACH
Justin Hill is in his second year as head cross country coach at Emporia State and will be in charge of the middle distance and distance runners for the Hornet track and field program. Hill was the director of operations and assistant cross country coach for the Hornets from 2021-24. He served as meet director for Emporia State's regular season home meets in addition to overseeing the operational aspects of the Hornet cross country and track and field programs.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
The Hornet men had the three different runners lead them in six races last season. Dylan Hunter was the top finisher over 10K at the NCAA Regional and paced ESU at the MIAA Championships and Gans Creek Classic 8K runs. Treyton Laurance had the top time over 8K at the Greeno Dirksen and ESU Invitationals. Mason Bina was the top finisher for the women in all six races last year. Emma Bartholome was in the second spot at the Greeno-Dirksen Invitational.

LAST YEAR AT THE JK GOLD
The Emporia State men's cross country team placed fifth and the women eighth at the JK Gold Classic. Luke Gleason led the Hornet men with a time of 18:58.59 over the 6K course to place 27th overall. Dylan Hunter was right behind him with a time of 18:59.26 to finish in 28th place. Treyton Laurance was the third finisher for Emporia State, running 19:28.90 to place 41st overall. Mason Bina was the top finisher for the Emporia State women, running 19:40.17 over 5K to finish in 44th place. Catherine Lyon was one spot behind her with a time of 19:43.81 for 45th place. Emma Bartholome ran 20:35.30 to place 63rd as the third Hornet finisher.

UP NEXT
Emporia State will travel to Lincoln, Neb. in two weeks for the Greeno-Dirksen Invitational hosted by the University of Nebraska. Races are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.

Complete Notes available here

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Players Mentioned

Mason Bina

Mason Bina

XC
Junior
Catherine Lyon

Catherine Lyon

XC
Senior
Elizabeth Willhite

Elizabeth Willhite

XC
Sophomore
Heidi Grimmett

Heidi Grimmett

XC
Junior
Emma Bartholome

Emma Bartholome

XC
Freshman
Luke Gleason

Luke Gleason

XC
Senior
Treyton Laurance

Treyton Laurance

XC
Junior
Dylan Hunter

Dylan Hunter

XC
Freshman
Evan Benoit

Evan Benoit

XC
Freshman
Carson Fouard

Carson Fouard

XC
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Mason Bina

Mason Bina

Junior
XC
Catherine Lyon

Catherine Lyon

Senior
XC
Elizabeth Willhite

Elizabeth Willhite

Sophomore
XC
Heidi Grimmett

Heidi Grimmett

Junior
XC
Emma Bartholome

Emma Bartholome

Freshman
XC
Luke Gleason

Luke Gleason

Senior
XC
Treyton Laurance

Treyton Laurance

Junior
XC
Dylan Hunter

Dylan Hunter

Freshman
XC
Evan Benoit

Evan Benoit

Freshman
XC
Carson Fouard

Carson Fouard

Sophomore
XC