Massey Earns Runner-Up Finish, Baker Women Take Third at 2024 Heart Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Aidan Massey's runner-up performance and a third-place finish from the women's team highlighted Baker cross country's outing at the 2024 Heart of America Cross Country Championships this weekend.

With the competition taking place on Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the BU women tallied 104 points to place third in the team standings, finishing behind second-place Benedictine (49) and conference champion Mount Mercy (36).

Meanwhile, in the men's race, Massey broke Baker's 8K record, clocking a time of 24:49.1 to take second in a race of over 120 runners. The senior from Olathe, Kan. secured his spot for the NAIA Cross Country Championships which are set for Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo.

Ellie Barnard was the first BU runner to cross the finish line in the women's 6K race, running a 23:03.6 and placing 10th overall to land on the All-Heart First Team.

Kristi Chambers (23:38.8) and Jana Landreth (24:04.4) were the next across for the Wildcats with Chambers coming in 17th and Landreth following in 23rd. Peyton Peterson (24:27.1) finished in 28th and Natalie Kennedy (24:31.0) capped the scoring for Baker after placing 31st in a race that featured over 110 runners.

The Baker men's squad took fifth for the second straight year at the league meet with Anthony Davis joining Massey in the top-15, individually. Davis ran a 25:36.8 and placed 15th to earn all-conference honorable mention honors.

Jacob McGlasson (26:24.1), Jaden Vohs (26:42.7) and Michael Knaussman (26:45.9) all ran under 27 minutes to round out the scoring for BU with McGlasson finishing in 27th, Vohs in 33rd and Knaussman in 35th.

Massey's silver medal was the highest finish for a Wildcat at the Heart Championships since Jackson Caldwell claimed the league title in 2020.

The 2024 NAIA Cross Country Championships will take place on Friday, Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.

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