COLUMBIA, Mo. – Freshman Rosemary Longisa and sophomore Solomon Kipchoge set course records in their respective events at the 2025 Gans Creek Classic. The Cougar women finished ninth overall in the Women's 6k Gold Race while the men finished 15th overall in the Men's 8k Gold Race.
 
In the women's 6k gold race, Longisa took home the title, running a course record time of 19 minutes and 7 seconds. Longisa led the race after the first 3 kilometers, right in front of the rest of the lead pack. She maintained her lead going into the final kilometer and eventually won the race by seven-tenths of a second. This is the second consecutive meet in which Longisa has set a course record, having done so two weeks ago at the Cougar Classic.
 
Cheptoo finished sixth in the race with a time of 19 minutes and 20.8 seconds, only 13 seconds off her winning teammate. She hung around the top 10 for a majority of the race, only being 2 seconds off the leader going into the final kilometer. Caroline Jepkorir finished inside the top 50, 41st, with a time of 20 minutes and 10.6 seconds. This is Jepkorir's best 6k time of her early collegiate career.
 
Solomon Kipchoge won the Men's 8k gold race with a course and personal record time of 22 minutes and 24.7 seconds. His time was 8 seconds better than the second-place finisher and almost 10 seconds better than his previous best 8k time. Kipchoge was only one second ahead of second place going into the final kilometer and pulled away by a good margin to win the race.
 
Josphat Meli was the second-best Cougar runner, finishing in 47th, with a time of 23 minutes and 22.2 seconds. Meli improved by nine places on the final kilometer of the race to finish inside of the top 50. Vincent Koech finished in 90th with a time of 23 minutes and 43.3 seconds. This is his best time of the season so far.
 
4 individuals participated in the Men's 8k black race, with Leo Cook finishing the highest, 78th, with a time of 24 minutes and 39.9 seconds.
 
The Cougs will compete next at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, October 17th.
 
 
Women's 6k Gold – WSU Individuals 

Rosemary Longisa, 19:07.0, 1st [Course Record] [PR]
 
Zenah Cheptoo, 19:20.8, 6th [PR]
 
Caroline Jepkorir, 20:10.6, 41st [PR]
 
Nicole Bissell, 20:50.8, 100th
 
Kylah Madariaga, 20:58.9, 116th [PR]
 
Hailey Cossey, 21:02.5, 125th [PR]
 
Lauren Hoyt, 21:45.0, 194th [PR]
 
Daphne Evenson, 21:52.1, 199th
 

Men's 8k Gold - WSU Individuals 

Soloman Kipchoge, 22:24.7, 1st [Course Record] [PR]
 
Jospaht Meli, 23:22.2, 47th
 
Vincent Koech, 23:43.3, 90th [SB]
 
Kutoven Stevens, 24:06.3, 138th [PR]
 
Eric Swedin, 24:37.6, 195th [PR]
 
Kade Brownell, 25:26.7, 229th
 
Evan Bruce, 26:05.0, 235th
 
Evans Kurui, DNF
 

Men's 8k Black - WSU Individuals 

Leo Cook, 24:39.9, 78th [PR]
 
Grayson Wilcott, 25:07.2, 147th
 
Micaiah Aden, 25:29.5, 180th
 
Kyle Ortega-Gammill, 26:02.3, 211th