Summit League Tabs Four Roos on Athletes to Watch List
8/28/2024 10:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Kansas City men’s and women’s cross country picked seventh across the conference
The Summit League released the 2024 men's and women's cross country preseason polls Wednesday morning, along with a 'Athletes to Watch' list prior to the season. Both Kansas City men's and women's cross country were picked to finish in an identical seventh place, mirroring last year's preseason poll where the Roos were picked to finish in that same spot.Â
Additionally, four Roos were selected to the Summit League's 'Athletes to Watch' list for this fall. Freshman Mariah Belmont and sophomore Harper Barlow represent the Roos on the women's side while junior Samuel Cleary and senior Joan Rocha-Navarro do the same for the men's squad.
Barlow looks to improve on a stellar opening campaign for the Roos in 2023 which was highlighted by her personal best 6k time of 24:04.4 at the Platte River Rumble. Barlow marked up another strong time of 24:24.4 at last October's Summit League Championships. Joining her on the women's side is newcomer Belmont. The freshman hails from Michigan and was an All-State runner for Macomb Dakota HS who also won a conference title in the 3200m race in 2022.Â
Kansas City men's cross country falls just below St. Thomas and South Dakota in seventh place with 13 votes according to coaches around the conference. The women's cross country squad received 11 votes in the preseason poll to finish in seventh place, just ahead of Oral Roberts and just behind Omaha and St. Thomas. The Roos will start their 2024 campaign in Lawrence, Kan. in the Bob Timmons Classic this Saturday.
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Players Mentioned
