The sun beat down on the Tigers Friday morning. As they trekked through the nearly empty far fields, Drew Rogers and his teammates looked exhausted. The final two kilometers were tough, and the cicadas’ cheers didn’t help. Missouri competed through fatigue and placed fifth at the Gans Creek Classic at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.
“It was a little bit of a rough day for everyone,” Drew Rogers said. Rogers placed first for Missouri and 14th overall in 24:29.9. “We didn’t execute the back half of the race how we wanted to.”
Drew Rogers (left) and Tyler Freiner stride up the hill at the 4K mark Friday, Sept. 30, 2023, at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. Photo/ Abigail Klapatauskas
Despite not meeting his own expectation, Rogers raced within three seconds of the lead through 5K, proving his potential to push his pace and chase down faster competitors.
Rogers’ teammate Ryder James, a redshirt freshman, also proved his potential, placing second for the Tigers and 18th overall in 24:37.3. After racing around the lily pad pond and past the crowd, James made moves in the quiet back field. While other runners leaned back, he charged up the hills, earning the fastest 6K split on his team.
“I’m proud of how I hung in there and battled,” James said. The heat challenged him in the back loop, and even though he “checked out a little bit,” he found focus again.
James praised his teammate Austin Popplewell for reaching a new personal record (25:02.7), and he hoped Popplewell races with the Tigers in Charlottesville, Virginia at the XC 23 Pre-Nationals October 14.
Austin Popplewell (Missouri) races toward a PR Friday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Gans Greek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo. “He’s working really hard,” teammate Ryder James said. Photo/ Abigail Klapatauskas
After the cooldown jog ended and the sun finally snuck behind a cloud, the Tigers seemed content to reflect, “address the little things” and move forward.
“We’re still building through the season,” Missouri coach Kyle Levermore said. “We’re in a good spot.”