Trojans Grind Out Sixth-Place Team Finish in Muddy Opener

On a mud-slicked Clapp Park course that tested every step, the Colby Community College cross country team showed grit and promise in their season debut at the Wichita State JK Gold Classic on Saturday, September 6.

The Trojan men placed sixth overall in a competitive 14-team field, paced by sophomore Kenan Delestre, who clocked 19:08 for eighth place individually. Freshman Enoha Reizabal-Bellange followed in 25th (19:50), with Thomas Calas (39th, 20:26), Alexandre Leroy (46th, 20:37), and Andrew Berger (48th, 20:38) rounding out Colby’s scoring pack.

On the women’s side, sophomore Nadine McIntyre led the Trojans with an impressive top-20 finish, running 19:39 for 17th place in a deep mix of NCAA Division I and II competitors. Freshman Laina Larson battled the conditions to finish in 21:54, while Kaylen McAtee (28:20) and Adriana Phillips (28:53) gained valuable first-race experience.

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Head coach Mathew Scott praised his team’s toughness through the heavy course.

“I was really proud of how our group handled a muddy, challenging course for the first meet of the season,” Scott said. “Kenan ran tough to place in the top 10, and we had solid support from Reizabal-Bellange, Calas, Leroy, and Berger that gave us a sixth-place team finish. On the women’s side, Nadine showed her strength with a top-20 finish, and Laina, Kaylen, and Adriana all competed hard and gained valuable experience. It wasn’t easy footing out there, but our team kept fighting through to the line.”

Scott also noted that the opener revealed areas to improve.

“This meet showed us we have the pieces, but we need to bring them closer together,” he said. “On the men’s side, our pack behind Kenan needs to tighten up so we’re not giving away points in the middle of the race. For the women, Nadine is competing well up front, but we need to keep building depth and consistency around her. The encouraging part is that these are things we can improve quickly with continued strength and pack work. If we close those gaps, both teams are going to take a big step forward.”

With the season underway, Colby’s resilience in less-than-ideal conditions set a foundation for growth. If Saturday was any indication, the Trojans are poised to climb as their depth develops and their packs close in.

Next, the Trojan team will be competing at Bethel College in Newton in the Muthama-Rogers Invitational.