Ed Bird Claims Victory at Gans Creek Classic in Record-Setting 8k
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sophomore Ed Bird picked up the first win of his collegiate cross country career on Friday, taking home the victory in the Men’s 8k at the Gans Creek Classic in record-record setting fashion. The Dorchester, England native broke the meet and course record by almost half a minute, crossing the line in 23:07.6, a new personal best by over a minute.
Racing in his first meet of the 2024 season, the 2023 SEC Cross Country All-Freshman Team member – and 2024 World U20 3000m Bronze Medalist—steadily climbed his way up the leaderboard throughout the race, constantly hanging with the lead pack until he made his move in the final two kilometers. “My coach (Hakon DeVries) and I thought, if I could stay in the top 20 until 3k, I’m in business,” Bird said after the race. When we got to 3k, I thought—actually—’I do feel really good’, so I kept making the break every time. Then, around the final corner, I was like ‘let’s have a crack at it’, so I went for it and I got there.”
The sixth annual Gans Creek Classic was hosted by the University of Missouri at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course, site of the 2025 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. 36 men’s teams and 40 women’s squads made up a field that featured over a dozen Power-Four schools and nine ranked teams across both races.
Bird was the top finisher in a blistering field that saw 15 runners—including Kentucky freshman Collins Kiprop—go under the previous course record of 23:33.5 set by Alabama’s Eliud Kipsang at the 2021 SEC Championships. Bird astonished by his final time—more than a minute faster than his best 8k time of 24:11.7 set at the 2023 Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational—recounted that “it wasn’t even going through my head that I would break the record, I was just trying to get first. I’m still in awe, honestly.”
The Englishman led his Kentucky squad to a top five finish for the second meet in a row, as the Cats scored 185 points to end up in fifth place. Kiprop, a freshman from Nakuru, Kenya, ran another spectacular race, finishing 15th in 23:33.0—bettering his time from the Southern Showcase and finishing faster than the previous course record.
Jackson Watts, a senior from Slaughters, Ky., ran an 8k under 24 minutes for the first time in his career, finishing in 38th with a time of 23:58.2. Jack Pendergast, a graduate transfer from Iowa, has now raced a personal best time in both his meets as a Wildcat, turning in a top 50 finish in 24:07.4. Alex Alston rounded out the counted Kentucky scores, finishing in 87th.
All 10 Wildcats in the men’s lineup raced new personal best times.
“I’m obviously ecstatic with Ed’s race,” Coach Hakon DeVries said following the meet. “To win in his season opener, especially considering the quality of the field, was something really exciting for our team. I was really happy with how our men executed the plan of working together in pairs or groups and I think that led us to have a really good team finish. I’m excited about the direction our team is headed and I am already looking forward to our next chance to race.”
No. 10 Stanford (31 points) took home the team title in the Men’s 8k, followed by Tennessee (163 points), Auburn (167 points), and the host, Missouri (180 points). The Wildcats did finish ahead of one ranked team—No. 28 Ole Miss—who came in seventh.
For the Women’s team, Ally Kruger continued to lead the Wildcat, as they raced in their first 6k race of the season. The St. Louis native racing in her home picked up her second consecutive top 20 finish of the 2024 season, finishing 17th in 20:25.6. Kruger lowered her previous 6k best time by over 30 seconds, leading her team as one of nine Cats to record a new best time in Columbia.
Phoebe McCowan, a senior from London, Ky., continues her breakout 2024 campaign with a personal best in the 6k on the heels of her best 5k performance two weeks ago at the Southern Showcase. McCowan was the second Wildcat finisher for the second meet in a row, placing 38th in 20:52.9.
Jenna Schwinghammer finished in 21:11.7, a new personal best time good for 57th. Lyric Olson counter her score for the first time this season with a 60th place finish in a personal best time of 21:14.2. Mollie Roden rounded out Kentucky’s counted scores with a 83rd place finish in 21:28.1, a new personal best.
No. 8 Stanford (44 points) completed the Gans Creek Classic sweep with a victory in the Women’s 6k. No. 9 Tennessee (91 points), No. 26 Ole Miss (120 points), No. 6 Florida (131 points), and Georgia Tech (164 points) rounded out the top five. Kentucky’s ninth place finish bettered SEC opponent Missouri.
“On the women’s side, Ally was very patient and really ran like a veteran,” reflected Coach DeVries. “She moved up well through the race and closed great. Some of our women had off days but our depth really showed and we still finished well. I was happy to see some of the younger women step up in their first 6k race too. Overall, we’re headed in the right direction and we will get back to work when we get back to Lexington.”
The Wildcats will return to the course in three weeks’ time, closing out the regular season schedule at the Bradley Pink Classic on Friday, October 18. Held at the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Illinois—site of the 2024 NCAA Division I Midwest Regional—the meet will be the last race for Kentucky until postseason action begins on November 1 at the SEC Championships, hosted by Texas A&M.
Results:
Men’s 8k DI
KENTUCKY – 5th, 185 points
1. Ed Bird – 23:07.6 PB – 1 point
15. Collins Kiprop Kipngok – 23:33.0 PB – 15 points
38. Jackson Watts – 23:58.2 PB – 37 points
50. Jack Pendergast – 24:07.4 PB – 48 points
87. Alex Alston – 24:31.4 PB – 84 points
111. Caden Miracle – 24:41.6 =PB – 106 points
133. Sami Hattab – 24:49.2 PB – 126 points
146. Caden Weber – 24:56.8 PB
169. Max Liao – 25:08.8 PB
175. William Russell – 25:10.5 PB
Women’s 6k DI
KENTUCKY – 6th, 185 points
17. Ally Kruger – 20:25.6 PB – 17 points
38. Phoebe McCowan – 20:52.9 PB – 38 points
57. Jenna Schwinghammer – 21:11.7 PB – 54 points
60. Lyric Olson – 21:14.2 PB – 57 points
83. Mollie Roden – 21:28.1 PB – 77 points
87. Chesney McPherson – 21:30.8 PB – 81 points
95. Jayla Atkinson – 21:33.7 PB – 87 points
112. Julz Williams – 21:43.0
155. Ava Hendren – 22:05.3 PB
175. Morgan Dick – 22:21.0 PB
Men’s 8k Open
25. Miles Brush – 24:54.835.
35. Theo Bachmann – 25:02.8 PB
Women’s 6k Open
25. Baylor Wolfe – 22:11.0 PB
37. Clara Heppner – 22:33.6 PB
