COLBY, Kan. – School-record performances run by Hutchinson Community College cross country runners Mildred Rono and Titus Kiprotich at the 2025 Missouri Southern Stampede have led to Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week awards for the Blue Dragon duo.

Mildred Rono (Hutchinson) – KJCCC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Running the first 5K race of her collegiate career, Hutchinson Community College freshman cross country runner Mildred Rono set a Blue Dragon school record on Saturday at the Missouri Southern Stampede. The number 10-ranked Blue Dragons had only four runners competing on Saturday and didn't post a team score as HCC ran in its first 5,000-meter race of the season. Rono won her second race of the season, posting a winning time of 16:49.23 on Saturday morning to win the race by 11.41 seconds. Rono broke the Blue Dragon women's cross country 5K record, formerly held by Faith Jepchirchir at 16:55.33, set last season.

Titus Kiprotich (Hutchinson) – KJCCC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Blue Dragon sophomore Titus Kiprotich finished second at the Missouri Southern Stampede and broke the Blue Dragon 8K record in finishing second with a time of 23:30.40, breaking his own team record. He led three Blue Dragon runners in the Top 10 and led number four-ranked Hutchinson to its second team title in as many meets this season at the predominantly NCAA Division 2 meet.

Other Women’s Runners Nominated:
Meryeme Mai – Garden City

Other Men’s Runners Nominated:
Thaddaeus Rotich – Garden City