1st OPSU cross country meet in Guymon

October 8, 2012

Sixty-three runners ran in the Aggie Invitational 5k run at Guymon High School Saturday. Participation was opened up to members of the community. Eight local residents participated making the total number of runners 71. Pictured is OPSU head cross country coach Victor Esparza cheering on Gideon Busienei (in red) during Saturday's meet. Courtesy photo/Justine Gaskamp

By LAURA NELSON
Special to the GDH

The coldest weather of the season did not deter runners and their fans from enjoying the cross country meet hosted by Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Guymon High School on Saturday morning.
It was OPSU’s first cross country meet ever held in Guymon.
With temperatures in the 40s and intermittent mist, Gideon Busienei, last year’s Heartland Conference Cross Country champion, earned fourth place in the men’s 5k. He finished with a time of 16:19.41 and his brother Mark Tuwei came in eighth at 16:47. Eddie Fierro earned 16th with a time just under 18 minutes flat.
Other Aggie men competing in the race were Tyler Stephens, Felipe Salinas, Clint Horton and Mike Wiebe.
Teenie Kent was the top OPSU finisher for the women, running the course in 21:07, good enough for 11th. Michelle Kent wasn’t far behind with a time of 21:28 and a 15th place finish. Brittany White, Korie Ham, Emily Vasquez, Megan Matejovsky and Julie Cross also ran the course.
The men’s and women’s teams from New Mexico Highlands University won the meet and Northwestern Oklahoma State University also competed.
A total of 29 women and 26 men ran, and the field included seven non-collegiate competitors including Jena Marr and Dana Collins, both OPSU staff members, Debbie Colson, Kim Like, and Bob Hawkins, the manager of the Guymon Walmart.
Head coach Victor Esparza said, “I thought both teams ran well, considering the weather, and it was good to see fans come out and support our runners. It meant a lot to them and helped them run better.”
He said he also would like to thank Guymon High School and GHS Coach Andy Brown for their help.
He plans to make the meet an annual event that will grow each year.