COLBY, Kan. – The fastest finishing NJCAA runners in their respective races at the Gans Creek Classic last week in Columbia, Missouri, Butler Community College cross country runners Emmanuel Otim and Elizabeth Hernandez have swept the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week awards for the second time this season.

Elizabeth Hernandez (Butler) – KJCCC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Grizzly sophomore Elizabeth Hernandez finished in fifth place out of 262 participants at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday. Hernandez finished her 6K with a time of 22:11.8, finishing as the highest-finishing NJCAA runner in the meet.

Emmanuel Otim (Butler) – KJCCC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Grizzly sophomore Emmanuel Otim finished in third place out of 261 participants at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday. Otim finished the 8K open invitational race with a time of 24:43.9, finishing as the highest NJCAA runner in the meet and trailing only two runners from NCAA D1 University of Colorado. As a team, the Grizzlies finished in fourth place and finished as the highest-placing NJCAA team.

Other Women’s Runners Nominated:
Nadine Mcintrye - Colby

Other Men’s Runners Nominated:
Japhet Kiprono - Colby