By Steve Holt, Sports Writer Running in the shadow of Division II cross country's Colorado behemoths for nearly a decade, the Wildcat men have inched closer and closer with each season to an elusive national championship. In 2000, the men placed second to Western State. In 2001, second. In 2002, another runner-up finish. Last year, more of the ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer Make it four straight for the ACU men's cross country team. The Wildcat men claimed their fourth consecutive Division II South Central Region Championship on Saturday in Joplin, Mo., advancing to the national championships with a perfect score of 15 points by placing ACU runners in the top five positions. The women's ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer Head cross country coach Jon Murray said he didn't need senior Bernard Manirakiza Saturday. Funny, considering Manirakiza is the No. 1 ACU runner, a top contender for an individual national title, and the Wildcats were competing for their 14th straight Lone Star Conference Championship. But the Friday night decision ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer The men's cross country team is expected to win its 13th straight Lone Star Conference Championship Saturday in Durant, Okla. The Wildcats enter the conference meet ranked No. 4 in the nation, behind Adams St. (Colo.), Western St. (Colo.), and California State-Chico. The women's team is unranked nationally but looks ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer The latest additions to the men's cross country team wasted no time making a positive impact, just weeks after arriving in the United States for the first time. Kenyan Nicodemus Naimadu and Burundian Laurent Ngirakamaro placed seventh and 12th, respectively, at the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree in ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer The men's and women's cross country teams will run against their fastest competition so far this season on Saturday, competing in the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The men's team is ranked fifth in the national poll this week, but it will see its match this weekend against a field of ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer Junior transfer Adeh Mwamba placed fourth Saturday to lead the ACU women's cross country team to a 10th-place finish at the Missouri Southern State University Stampede in Joplin, Mo. Mwamba was the No. 1 Wildcat finisher, covering the 5,000-meter course in 16:55.57. The next ACU finisher was sophomore Olha Kryv'yak, ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer ACU swept the men's and women's team titles at its own meet Friday, also claiming the top two individual titles at the ACU Classic. Bernard Manirakiza won his fourth straight Classic title, covering the four-mile course in 20:13.31. Adeh Mwamba won her second-straight individual title, running the three-mile course in ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer ACU senior Bernard Manirakiza wants to be the Division II national champion in cross country. So does junior Martin O'Kello. But don't assume any malevolent competition between the two African-born Wildcat runners. In fact, they are pushing and training each other for a shared goal: to finish 1-2 at this year's NCAA ... [Read More…]

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer Even though he was a decorated marathoner in college, the head Wildcat track and field coach now only runs about twice a week. And anyone who knows Murray knows it isn't because he doesn't still have it. He just doesn't have the time, between being a father and husband, coaching four teams and tirelessly recruiting ... [Read More…]