By Steve Carpenter
Blue Dragon Sports Information Director

Jafet Molinares' first season as Hutchinson Community College cross country coach in 2023 was in many ways very typical for a coach in his first season with a new program.

There were plenty of ups and downs along the way.

Some of the ups were the Blue Dragon women's team finishing as KJCCC and Region 6 runner-up and a Top 10 finish at the NJCAA national championships. Some of the downs were the men's team struggling with injuries and only posting one team score last season, which was a fifth-place Region 6 finish.

BLUE DRAGON CROSS COUNTRY
Terry Masterson Twilight Classic
When: Friday, August 30, 2024
Where: Fun Valley Sports Complex
Women's Race – 3 miles, 8:30 p.m.
Men's Race – 4 times – 9:05 p.m.
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, -- Women's Race Link starts at 8:25 p.m.      Men's Race Link start at approximately 9 p.m.
Timing: Heartland Timing
X: @bluedragonsport

Now as Year No. 2 is set to start Friday night for Molinares, both Blue Dragon teams have high hopes – the women's team maintaining its status as one of the top teams in the KJCCC and the guys looking to return to the upper echelon of the league.

"I'm really excited about our recruiting class and newcomers," said Molinares, whose team opens the 2024 season on Friday with the annual Terry Masterson Classic at the Fun Valley Sports Complex. "I think all the new runners will complement our returning runners well. We have some pretty talented individuals this year. I'm looking forward to seeing them compete."
he Terry Masterson Twilight Classic begins with the women's race at 8:30 p.m. on Friday. The men's race is scheduled for 9:05 p.m.

BLUE DRAGON MEN
The Blue Dragons have two returning sophomores in 2024.

Leo LeGrand and David Ultreras ran last season as individuals at the NJCAA Division I national championships. LeGrand (Mansfield, Texas) placed 78th in a time of 26:35.30, which was his best 8K time of the season. David Ultreras (Dodge City) ran 1 time of 27:32.20 to finish 125th. His best 8K time as a freshman was 27:08.90.

"David has come along and the same thing with Leo," Molinares said. "Both had good indoor and outdoor track seasons and they are looking to carry their momentum into cross country season."

The HutchCC men will get a boost from two Blue Dragon track athletes who joined the Blue Dragon program at the start of the 2024 second semester.

Titus Kiprotich (Iten, Kenya) ran the second fastest indoor 3,000-meter time in Blue Dragon history (8:34.90) and the sixth-fastest outdoor 5,000-meter time (14:50.60) last spring. Farrin Mangelson (San Antonio, Texas) posted the fifth-fastest indoor 5,000-meter time (15:15.12), eighth-fastest outdoor 5,000-meter time (15:03.13) and third-fastest 10,000-meter time (31.49.43) last spring.

"Both of those guys have adapted to the system, the philosophy and the training," Molinares said. "Those guys will make a big impact on our team."

The 2024 Blue Dragons will have three freshman runners from Kenya in Dennis Cheruiyot, Cornelius Kogo and Thaddaeus Rotich. The in-state freshmen are Kaden Lohrentz (Buhler) and Blake Yoder (Hutchinson Central Christian).

"Those guys will have a big impact on the team as well," Molinares said. "We are going to be able to post team scores as every meet this year with nine runners."

BLUE DRAGON WOMEN
The 2024 Blue Dragon women will have seven runners this season, three return from 2024.

Sophomore Laura Avila (Medellin, Columbia) is the Blue Dragons' top returning runner. She placed sixth last season in Region 6, posting a season's best 5K time of 18:55.07, which is the fifth-fastest 5K time in Blue Dragon women's history. Avila was 53rd at nationals in a time of 19:46.20. Injuries slowed her progress down in the spring track season.

Jordyn Picolet (Council Grove) had a strong freshman cross country season. Picolet ran her best cross country time of the season of 19:37.93 to finish 13th in the Region 6 championships. She placed 77th at nationals with a time of 21:42.80. In the spring, Picolet posted the third-fastest outdoor 5,000-meter time (18:44.62) and second-fastest 10,000-meter time (39:46.61) in Blue Dragon history.

Abigail Grantham (Maize) ran a top 5K cross country time of 20:49.22 to placed 27th overall last season. She ran 21:04.50 to place 106th at nationals. Grantham was a two-time track All-American last spring, earning those honors in the indoor distance medley relay and the outdoor 4x800-meter relay.

"Laura is fit now and I'm certain she will again be one of our top runners," Molinares said. "Jordyn is phenomenal to say the least. I think she will surprise some people this year."

One transfer and three freshmen round out the 2024 Blue Dragon women's roster.

Rio Kirven (Dallas) is a transfer from Fort Scott Community College. She ran in two races last season. Her season's best was 22:07.6 at the Missouri Southern Stampede. She was 48th at Region 6 with a time of 22:37.4.

Faith Jepchirchir (Iten, Kenya), Ava Lemaster (Salina) and Lillian Mateo Torrez (Potosi, Bolivia) are the freshmen runners this season.

"The girls have a good chance to keep rolling," Molinares said. "They have a chance to do some special things. I honestly think we will improve from last year."