Women's Cross Country | 9/24/2026 3:57:00 PM
The Cloud County Community College women's cross country team has moved up one spot to No. 10 in the Week 1 edition of the 2026 NJCAA Division I Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll, which was released Wednesday, September 23 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The T-Birds were previously ranked No. 11 in the preseason poll.
The T-Birds opened the 2026 season on September 5 at the 78th annual JK Gold Classic at Clapp Cross Country Course in Wichita, Kansas, followed by a 5k race at the 37th annual Missouri Southern Stampede, hosted by Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri on September 19. Cloud County recorded a fourth place team finish at the JK Gold Classic, tied with Butler Community College for the highest placing among two-year schools, while the T-Birds secured 13th place at the Missouri Southern Stampede, the highest among two-year schools at the event.
Sophomore
Faith Jepchumba has led Cloud County this season, finishing as the top NJCAA runner at both meets. This season, Jepchumba has twice been named the NJCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week. She has also earned Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors twice this fall.
The T-Bird women have also received a top-10 finish from freshman
Scholastica Herman, who finished in sixth place at the JK Gold Classic. Herman headlines a talented freshman group that also includes
Kaiyanna Alexander,
Rylie Jessup,
Annie Logie,
Breonna Peterson and
Isabelle Smith.
Cloud County returns to action on Friday, October 2 as they head to Winfield, Kansas for Cowley College's Tiger Ambush XC Open. The men race at 9 am, followed by the women at 9:45 am.
For all the latest news and information on the Cloud County cross country teams, fans can stay connected online at cloudtbirds.com, as well as following the Cloud County Athletic Department's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.