Women’s 4,000-meter race

Lauren Jaqua – first, 15:05 minutes

Kerry Kurta – second, 15:39 minutes

Ashley McBride – third, 15:58 minutes

Megan Rosa – fifth, 16:22 minutes

Shelby Stephens – ninth, 16:47 minutes

Jenna Stanbrough – 10th, 16:49 minutes

Rachael Ash – 12th, 16:54 minutes

Amanda Moody – 26th, 18.38 minutes

Joeanna Feliciano -28th, 18.43 minutes

Aadrian McCollum – 38th, 20:19 minutes

Men’s 5,000-meter race

Vincent Tadokoro – fifth, 16:48 minutes

Corey Matteson – 14th, 17:15 minutes

Jamie Stuery – 18th, 17:40 minutes

Andrew Dare – 22nd, 17:51 minutes

Andrew Heim – 24th, 18:01 minutes

Cooper Clark – 30th, 18:28 minutes

Tosh Mihesuah – 31st, 18:39 minutes

Carter Breithaupt – 37th, 19:00 minutes

Andew Emanuel – 43rd, 19:41 minutes

Ulrich Johanning – 46th, 20:15

Crossing over the finish line with a time of 16:48 and a 5,000-meter course behind him, junior Vincent Tadokoro placed fifth in the annual Maple Leaf Invitational on Saturday.

Tadokoro was not only the top finisher for the Baker University men’s cross county team, but was also named the season’s first Heart of America Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week.

“I feel really good (about my performance) because I am way ahead of where I was last year,” Tadokoro said.

Tadokoro and the Wildcats finished third in their only home meet of the season behind Southwestern College and Johnson County Community College.

Freshman Corey Matteson was the only other Wildcat to place in the top 15 for the men’s team. He clocked in a time of 17:15.

Finishing first on the women’s side was senior Lauren Jaqua. She crossed the finish line in the 4,000-meter race with a time of 15:05, good for her third straight win in the Maple Leaf Invitational. Jaqua’s teammates followed closely behind her as six Wildcats placed in the top 10, allowing BU to claim its third consecutive Maple Leaf championship.

Junior Kerry Kurta and senior Ashley McBride finished second and third, respectively, to sweep the top three spots for Baker. Senior Megan Rosa, freshman Shelby Stephens and senior Jenna Stanbrough were the other top 10 finishers for the Wildcats.

With these performances during the season opener, Jaqua has high expectations for the women’s team.

“This year, with our depth and wide range of talent we have, I expect our girls team to win conference and go after a top 10 team finish at the national meet,” Jaqua said. “I’m excited about the upcoming races.”

Stephens has not competed in many 4,000-meter runs before, so her goal for the meet was to finish in less than 20 minutes and improve her time.

“I didn’t really know what to expect being it was my first college race, so I was pretty excited about placing in the top 10,” Stephens said.

Baker has the weekend off but is scheduled to run in the University of Central Missouri Mule Run on Sept. 14 in Warrensburg, Mo.