Fall Sports Preview

Sunday, August 29, 2021

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L A W R E NC E

Journal-World

®

Universit y of Kansa s sports te some hopi ams a ng to mak e a fresh s re gearing up for th t e fall seas past succe art, others looking t o o build on n — sses. Here from the J ’s a look at what to their ayhawks i n the mon expect ths ahead .

Journal-Wor

ld File Phot

Courtesy of

FULL S CHEDU

FOOTBALL.... ..............2C VOLLEYBALL. .............4C

LES IN SIDE

SOCCER........ .............. 6C CROSS COUN TRY.........7C

Courtesy of

o

KU Athletic

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KU Athletic

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Sunday, August 29, 2021

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

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L awrence J ournal -W orld

Will new coach be able to give KU football some life?

By Benton Smith

I

lll

basmith@ljworld.com

n his last 14 seasons as a head college football coach, Lance Leipold won six Division III national championships at WisconsinWhitewater and then turned a down-in-thedumps Buffalo program into a bowl game regular. He amassed a 146-39 career record in his eight years with Whitewater and six with the Bulls.

And he knows none of that guarantees him anything in his first season as the head coach for Kansas football.

As the Jayhawks reboot yet again, Leipold — the program’s third head coach in the past four years — hopes to replicate his past successes in Lawrence. But it remains to be seen how long a rebuilding project of that magnitude will take — and whether it’s possible

LEIPOLD’S

BIG TEST

at KU, which has won no more than three games in a season for 11 years in a row.

What is certain is that it will take a lot of hard work.

“We’re going to expect and want our players to continue to work on daily improvement,” Leipold said. “We have to be a program that’s going to take care of the finer points of the game and continue to build consistency and confidence in each and every thing that we do.”

That’s one aspect of

what worked for Leipold on the previous rungs of the college football coaching ladder. And from what he’s learned about his players since taking over the program late in the spring, he thinks the Jayhawks are willing to follow his lead.

“They’re accepting the change,” Leipold said.

“We’re going to need that desire each and every day as you go through some of the tough times.”

The Jayhawks are coming off of a pandemic-shortened 0-9 season in 2020, and they and

their fan base know all too well about disappointment on the gridiron. But with Leipold’s track record and reputation and what the players have seen from their new coach and his staff in the offseason, the Jayhawks are eager to enter a new era and see where Leipold takes them.

Quarterbacks If not for the odd timing of Leipold’s hire, KU’s quarterback situation might have been sorted out by now. Leipold arrived just as KU football

2021 KU Football Schedule Sept. 3 vs. South Dakota, 7 p.m. (ESPN+) Sept. 10 at Coastal Carolina, 6:30 p.m.

(ESPN2) Sept. 18 vs. Baylor, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) Sept. 25 at Duke Oct. 2 at Iowa State Oct. 9: Bye week Oct. 16 vs. Texas Tech Oct. 23 vs. Oklahoma Oct. 30 at Oklahoma State Nov. 6 vs. Kansas State Nov. 13 at Texas Nov. 20 at TCU Nov. 27 vs. West Virginia

wrapped up its spring practice schedule, so the new staff didn’t have a chance to evaluate the candidates before preseason camp.

> FOOTBALL, 3C

Courtesy of KU Athletics

KANSAS FOOTBALL COACH LANCE LEIPOLD GIVES DIRECTION DURING PRESEASON CAMP ON AUG. 5.

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L awrence J ournal -W orld

Football CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2C

There are three candidates for the No. 1 QB spot — senior Miles Kendrick, sophomore Jalon Daniels and newcomer Jason Bean, a junior transfer from North Texas. And Leipold, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and QBs coach Jim Zebrowski don’t want to rush into a decision.

In early August, Leipold didn’t mind saying that the competition might last all the way up to the final practice before the team’s Sept. 3 opener versus South Dakota. He said that letting it play out thoroughly would allow the new coaches more time to evaluate — and that it could also benefit the QBs themselves as each tries to prove he should be the starter.

Running backs Last year with Buffalo, Kotelnicki led an offense that averaged 43.1 carries and 287.1 yards on the ground. KU’s running backs room appears to have enough depth to embrace that type of attack in the first year under Leipold.

The Jayhawks don’t have Pooka Williams Jr. anymore. But they do bring back their leading returning rusher, junior Velton Gardner, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry a year ago when he ran for 325 yards as a sophomore.

As a bonus, the KU offense also has a couple of backs who filled in for Gardner in 2020 and proved they have plenty of potential, too. Sophomore Daniel Hishaw Jr. averaged 4.4 yards per carry last fall, and redshirt freshman Amauri Pesek-Hickson put up 3.6 yards per carry. Hishaw capped his debut year with an 87-yard outing at Texas Tech, and Pesek-Hickson was the

Sunday, August 29, 2021 only Jayhawk in 2020 with a 100-yard rushing game (against TCU).

What’s more, the Jayhawks’ top incoming freshman, former Lawrence High star Devin Neal, drew high praise throughout preseason camp. Leipold expects the hometown true freshman will play a role immediately, as the Jayhawks have the luxury of using many backs and keeping their legs fresh.

Offensive line In order to have an effective ground game, KU will need a vastly improved offensive line in 2021.

Kotelnicki and O-line coach Scott Fuchs are expected to help the Jayhawks’ play up front. And the line also is counting on junior center Mike Novitsky, who transferred in from Buffalo. He was a first-team All-MAC center a year ago, started every game for the Bulls the past two seasons and is as surefire a starter as the offense has.

Leipold and his staff also are optimistic about another former Buffalo blocker up front: Michael Ford Jr., who redshirted with Buffalo last season. Ford is a potential starter at tackle at some point during his upcoming redshirt freshman season. But there could be healthy competition at the right tackle spot between him and redshirt freshman Bryce Cabeldue, who started the final two games at that position last year.

With Novitsky in the mix, former Notre Dame walk-on Colin Grunhard, who was in the program all spring, moves from a likely starter at center to possibly becoming the Jayhawks’ starting right guard as a junior.

On the other side of Novitsky, super-senior Malik Clark is back at his natural spot, left guard, after spending most of 2020 at left tackle.

| 3C

Senior Earl Bostick Jr., who finished last year as KU’s starting left tackle, looks to retain that spot.

Sophomore Armaj Reed-Adams and superseniors Adagio Lopeti and Chris Hughes could all play key roles for the Oline this fall, as well.

Receivers This position group is led by the same coach as last year — Emmett Jones, who was also the interim head coach during the spring. But the unit itself looks a lot different going into 2021 than it did a year ago.

Andrew Parchment and Stephon Robinson Jr. both left through the transfer portal, meaning that Kwamie Lassiter II is the only super-senior among the receivers.

Lassiter, though, led the struggling KU offense in receiving yards (458) and receptions (43) in 2020.

The Jayhawks also welcome back sophomore Luke Grimm, who finished second on the team with his 255 receiving yards despite not taking on a contributing role until the final five games of 2020. Grimm made up for lost time, making 18 of his 19 receptions in KU’s last four games. He scored both of his freshman year TDs against TCU. KU’s receiving room has a number of other players who could take off in the months ahead. Sophomore Trevor Wilson was a speedy target for Buffalo a year ago and scored three TDs. Lawrence Arnold, a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman, had his 2020 season with KU shortened by injury.

Teammates often mention sophomore Steven McBride as a receiver who’s expected to step up. Junior Kevin Terry, a former walk-on at Texas Tech, has known Jones since he was a high school senior and gained his teammates’ trust in camp.

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> JAYHAWKS, 5C

Artistically Speaking… There’s a new kid on the block!!

The Danon Gallery is now in Lawrence, Kansas

By J. Maling

Bob Danon, moved to Lawrence, from Chicago, in August 2019, to be near his daughter Kate, who like many, chose to stay in Lawrence, after graduating from KU. After almost 45 years in the art and framing business, Bob chose to have an in-home gallery and framing business, as opposed to another store-front gallery. With Covid-19 arriving in early 2020, Bob was much relieved with the decision he had made, to not be paying rent on a store-front business. The plan now, is to do some informative advertising to inform the public. So, what follows is a partial of the ad that Bob ran in a Chicago paper, in 1993, when he told us all…

I Covered Michael Jordan...

“Actually, I double matted Michael, tripled matted him, put him in a plexibox, then I framed him again, along with Scotty, Magic, Charles, Karl, Chris, Larry, John, Patrick, Mr. Robinson, and even Bo… to name only a few.”

Unlike many residential and corporate art people, Danon does it all myself. From conception to completion, he has worked with the architects & designers on the actual design project as well as with the end user. There is no middleman when Bob is involved…

He does all the framing and installations (if necessary) himself. This has proven to be far more efficient and cost effective, than buying from a corporate art consultant who uses a separate framer and installer.

(Above) Bob Danon, on his way up the stairs, at MJ’s, where there were several dozen celebrity autographed photos, to Michael. The walls of the second floor dinning room, were covered with framed magazine covers of MJ, from all over the world. On the opposite wall hung a 24’ long painting of the 1992, Olympic Dream Team, painted by Greg Gove. To the right, is an 8’ square painting of Michael, hung three floors up in the atrium above the main entrance. Bob cut the four, 8’ pcs. back in his shop, and then had to assemble it all, 3 floors up, on a scaffolding, because the large, 8’ square frame wouldn’t fit through the various doorways, to reach the third floor.

Following is a partial list of Danon Gallery clients: Michael Jordan’s Restaurant, Pat Bowlen and the Denver Bronco’s at Mile High Stadium, The United Center, The Chicago Blackhawks, Northwestern University’s Sports Department, Mike Ditka’s Restaurant, the Arrowhead Golf Club building in Wheaton, IL., Chart House Restaurants of Colorado, Select Restaurants of Ohio, an Air Force Art Exhibit at the Pentagon, numerous hospitals in Denver and Chicago and the Corporate offices of Hyatt Domestic and International.

the danon gallery….

5123 Congressional Pl. web: www.danonartnframes.com

By appointment only... 785-551-8198 email: bob@danonartnframes.com

4C

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Sunday, August 29, 2021

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

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L awrence J ournal -W orld

KU wants to make it back to the top of the Big 12

By Matt Tait lll

VOLLEYBALL

W AIMS HIGH mtait@ljworld.com

ith eve r y player b a c k from t h e shortened 2020 season and the biggest roster the program has ever had, Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard believes the Jayhawks are well positioned to start climbing back toward the top of the Big 12 Conference.

Memories of consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament and even the program’s first-ever Final Four berth in 2015 are still fresh in many minds around the program. And the goal — of those who

“I think the team would be disappointed if they’re not an NCAA Tournament team,” Bechard told the Journal-World ahead of the 2021 season opener. “I hear that bantered around quite a bit. Is it realistic to say we want to go be Big 12 Bechard Bien champs? I think it’s realistic to say we think we can were around for that run compete with anybody in and those who have only the league.” heard about it — is to get Bechard’s team was back to that level. picked to finish fourth in

Courtesy of KU Athletics

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the conference by the Big 12 coaches, and freshman Caroline Bien became the second consecutive Jayhawk to be named the Big 12’s preseason freshman of the year.

Her presence, along with that of returning middle blocker Caroline Crawford, will be a key part of the core of the 2021 team.

> VOLLEYBALL, 5C

2021 KU Volleyball Schedule Aug. 28 vs. Loyola Marymount (at Purdue) — L, 17-25, 23-25, 25-23, 24-26 Today at Purdue, 1 p.m.

Sept. 2 at Lipscomb, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 vs. Wake Forest (at Lipscomb), 4 p.m.

Sept. 4 vs. Western Kentucky, (at Lipscomb), noon.

Sept. 9 vs. Delaware, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 vs. Wichita State, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 vs. Kent State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 16 vs. Kansas City, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 vs. Missouri State, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Albany, 11 a.m.

Sept. 24 at Texas Tech, 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Texas Tech, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 vs. Iowa State, 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs. Iowa State, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 vs. Texas, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs. Texas, 4 p.m.

Oct. 14 at Baylor, 6 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Baylor, 5 p.m.

Oct. 29 vs. Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30, vs. Oklahoma, 4 p.m.

Nov. 4 at West Virginia, 4 p.m.

Nov. 5 at West Virginia, 4 p.m.

Nov. 19 vs. TCU, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 vs. TCU, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 26 at Kansas State, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Kansas State, 6:30 p.m.

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

L awrence J ournal -W orld

Jayhawks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3C

Plus, sophomore Tristan Golightly, freshman Tanaka Scott, redshirt freshman Quentin Skinner and junior Jamahl Horne all have been touted at times this offseason for their potential.

Tight ends It remains to be seen how much the tight ends will factor into the passing game in terms of production. But Kotelnicki, who coaches the group, likes using tight ends and H-backs. The OC also liked what he saw from the group during camp.

Junior Mason Fairchild and redshirt freshmen Trevor Kardell and Will Huggins are the most likely passing targets in the group.

Fairchild caught five balls for 57 yards in 2020, but an

Volleyball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4C

Those two will be joined by several other key returners. Former UCLA standout Jenny Mosser and sophomore Ayah Elnady are on the outside; senior Rachel Langs is next to Crawford in the middle; setters Elise McGhie and Sara Nielsen are joined by standout freshman Camryn Turner in being asked to run the offense; and seven or eight other players with legitimate experience round out the roster.

Although this group is still a young team by most standards, those underclassmen who played a lot last season and are back for a fresh start gained valuable reps even while taking their lumps last fall. After going 5-9 against Big 12 foes last fall, the Jayhawks were 7-1 in the spring.

“There’s great value in the momentum we built as

uptick in production from and Ronald McGee, both of him and the tight end group whom still have two years is possible within Kotel- of eligibility left. nicki’s scheme.

Super-senior nose tackle Sam Burt returns for the unit after starting eight Defensive line Defensive coordinator games in 2020. And the DBrian Borland followed line group also has senior Leipold from Buffalo, and Caleb Sampson, sophomore he brought with him a new Jereme Robinson and redscheme. The Jayhawks’ shirt freshman Caleb Taybase scheme will now be lor to deploy up front. a four-man front instead of the three-man approach Linebackers they used the past couple of The linebackers group, years. coached by Chris Simpson, And Borland thinks D- doesn’t have a wealth of exend might be one of his perience and might be the deeper spots, with athletic most difficult position to super-senior Kyron John- project for the fall. son, senior Malcolm Lee, The elder statesman of sophomore Steven Parker, the bunch is super-senior senior Zion DeBose (a trans- Nate Betts, but he played fer from Virginia Tech), safety up until this year senior Hayden Hatcher at KU. The most knowland freshman D’Marion edgeable and comfortable Alexander. within Borland’s defense On the interior, the Jay- at linebacker should be juhawks were pleased to add nior Rich Miller, who was two former Buffalo line- a backup at Buffalo the past men: veterans Eddie Wilson two seasons. we ended last fall and transitioned into last spring,” Bechard said. “You could just see the youth turn into a little bit more experience.”

With so much talent and such a large roster comes depth at nearly every position. Bechard believes the Jayhawks have that and will throughout the season, as long as they stay healthy.

Doing so, however, will create a situation where some might not get to play as much as they’d like.

Bechard said the buy-in and team-first approach from all 20 players on the roster, whether a starter or a seldom-used sub, will be crucial to this team’s success.

“Is everybody going to stay on board with ‘here’s what we need tonight’ and ‘here’s what’s in our best interest?’” Bechard asked.

Although some of that will be seen as roles and playing time are more defined, Bechard thinks he already knows the answer to that key question.

“There’s a unique synergy and energy and

enthusiasm that’s going on with this group,” he said.

For the second season in a row, KU will play doubleheaders during conference play instead of home-andhome dates with the rest of the conference. Bechard said that with COVID-19 still present, making fewer trips was the right move.

And he thought it was only fair to even out the way the schedule played out last year, with KU traveling to all of the Big 12 teams it hosted a season ago this time around.

Regardless of where they’re playing or what’s at stake, Bechard said this team plans to put all of the focus on two core values: grit and grace.

“We’re going to make sure those things are apparent in all the things we’re doing,” he said. “We feel like we’ve got the right people in place, and there’s no reason why we can’t get it rolling again to the level we want it to get rolling at.

But we want to do it the right way.”

Sunday, August 29, 2021

KU has some more seasoned linebackers, including juniors Gavin Potter and Nick Channel, who were thrust into starting roles late in 2020 because of injuries and other issues. And sophomore Taiwan Berryhill got one start last year, in the season finale.

Safeties One of the most recognizable faces within the program is junior safety Kenny Logan Jr., who has emerged as a prominent leader.

Logan, who was also KU’s leading tackler a year ago, contributed 58 total stops, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He is joined at safety by supersenior Ricky Thomas, who finished tied for second in total tackles last fall (42).

Behind the veterans, KU’s safeties trend very young. But the Jayhawks have raved about the potential of true freshmen Jayson

| 5C

Gilliom and O.J. Burroughs will need to acclimate since they joined the pro- quickly in the secondary. gram early in the spring.

Kicking Cornerbacks Some specialists who had The starting cornerback to contribute as freshmen in spots will look unrecogniz- 2020 are expected to keep able when the season be- handling their business as gins, now that both Elijah sophomores.

Jones and Karon Prunty Reis Vernon punted in have transferred out. each of the final five games Only one corner who for KU this past fall and avplayed regularly for the eraged 37.8 yards per punt Jayhawks in 2020 is back: with a long of 50 yards.

Duece Mayberry, who’s Jacob Borcila appeared in now a sophomore. all nine games for the JayMayberry and the young hawks a year ago but rarely cornerback group at least came across field goal opadded a veteran presence portunities. Borcila finished before camp started. Su- 6-for-9 on field goal tries per-senior Jeremy Webb, a with a season-best long of graduate transfer from Mis- 48 yards. He went a perfect souri State who also played 10-for-10 on extra points. earlier in his career at VirAnd on kickoffs, it will ginia Tech, comes in with once again be Tabor Allen some starting experience — trying to boot the ball away as well as unusual length for from dangerous returners. a corner at 6-foot-4.

Playing as a true freshman in Redshirt freshman the final six games of 2020, Ra’Mello Dotson and fresh- Allen kicked six touchbacks man Jacobee Bryant also on his 18 kickoffs.

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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

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Sunday, August 29, 2021

L awrence J ournal -W orld

Kansas soccer aims to build on its past successes

By Matt Tait lll

T

mtait@ljworld.com

he number of former Kansas women’s soccer players in the professional ranks has increased dramatically during the last five years, and head coach Mark Francis believes that’s a product of the way his team prepares and plays.

As Francis and his coaching staff travel to homes and soccer fields to recruit the next crop of KU players, one of the first things they hear from the players they target is that they want to play professionally after college.

Those words are exactly what Francis likes to hear.

“Playing the way we play, and having to solve the game the way we have to solve it, because of our style of play, is going to develop you and help you in the next

NEW FACES. SAME GOAL. Francis

Goalkeeper Sarah Peters

step to go on to the pro level,” Francis recently told the Journal-World.

For years, KU’s style under Francis has been based on ball control, crisp passing and a methodical attack.

That approach figures to be crucial during the 2021

season, when the Jayhawks will look to benefit from a deep and talented roster as they return to what they hope will be a normal season on the pitch.

The Jayhawks were 5-31 during the pandemicshortened fall season in 2020, and they finished 1-12 in four games this spring.

In all, 13 of the 26 players on KU’s 2021 roster are experiencing a real college season for the first time.

And while Francis believes that many of the young Jayhawks will contribute right away, he views the team’s balance as one of its biggest strengths.

“I think from the top to the bottom of the group there’s just a lot of ability,” he said. “I think we’re deep and we’re going to be able to use a lot of subs without a drop off or too much of a drop off. Having that depth is going to be crucial.”

On offense, Francis thinks that former UMKC transfer Rylan Childers — whose younger sister, Raena, is also on the team — has been one of the most improved players on the team and could be poised to lead the KU attack from the midfield.

> SOCCER, 7C

2021 KU Soccer Schedule Aug. 13 vs. Kansas City (exhibition) - W, 2-1 Aug. 19 vs. Drake Tie, 0-0 Aug. 22 vs. Wisconsin L, 1-0 Aug. 26 vs. Saint Louis W, 2-0 Today vs. Iowa, 1 p.m.

Sept. 2 at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Arkansas State, Noon Sept. 9 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 vs.

Washington State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 16 at Dartmouth, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Harvard, Noon Sept. 23 at TCU, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Oklahoma State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 30 vs. Kansas State, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Iowa State, 1 p.m.

Oct. 7 vs. Baylor, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. West Virginia, 1 p.m.

Oct. 14 at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28 vs. Texas, 7 p.m.

Journal-World File Photo

THE SOCCER STADIUM AT ROCK CHALK PARK IS PICTURED IN THIS FILE PHOTO FROM AUG. 22, 2014.

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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

L awrence J ournal -W orld

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Soccer

Young cross country squads eager to show their depth

By Matt Tait lll

mtait@ljworld.com

B

uilding depth throughout a roster without a single senior will be a key part of the 2021 Kansas cross country season for both the men and the women.

Two weeks removed from the season-opening Bob Timmons Classic, KU coach Michael Whittlesey emphasized that while both teams have quality returners at the top of their lineups, the team’s success this season may depend on how hard their teammates can push them.

“With the women, we need to stay healthy and close our depth at our 5-7 spots,” Whittlesey said. “(With the men), we should have good depth this year but need to build the depth to run with our front runners.”

Whittlesey said the men’s side of the roster features an experienced group that knows what to expect. Now

NO SENIORS? NO PROBLEM. it’s about seeing how many of them are ready for bigger roles.

The KU men finished fifth at the Big 12 championships last season but lost their top runner — Ben Butler, who earned all-Big 12 honors and a spot at nationals — to graduation.

Sophomore Chandler Gibbens, who finished 21st at the Big 12 meet in 2020, appears to be on track to inherit Butler’s role as the top male challenger each week.

“He has been running as one of our top three runners throughout his career,” Whittlesey said. “He now moves into the role as our team leader and has put in a great summer to take on that role. A great competitor with great range on the track and a proven competitor on the cross country course, he has

proven he can run with the front pack in any race and looks to have a great year.”

Experienced returners Teddy Buckley, Jake Ralston and John Luder are expected to team up with Gibbens at the front of the pack. Jack Young and freshman A.J. Green also could be weekly factors for the men’s team.

On the women’s side, top returners Lona Latema, Avryl Johnson, Ally Ryan and top transfer Sommer Herner are expected to lead the young Jayhawks.

Latema, a sophomore from Kenya, earned all-Big 12 honors last season with a 14th-place finish at the Big 12 meet. Johnson placed 33rd at the same meet and was KU’s top finisher in the two meets prior to that one at the end of the 2020 season.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6C

Childers led KU’s offense with 4 goals and 24 shots in 13 games last season and added an assist.

Francis also said that freshman Maggie Gagné, a forward from Montreal, had the potential to be a top line player right away. Gagné was the only freshman to start in KU’s exhibition opener, and Francis said she looked “very, very dangerous” throughout the preseason.

While the 23-year KU coach is encouraged by what he’s seen from the offense, Francis still believes KU’s defense will carry it in 2021.

Leading the charge there is senior goalkeeper Sarah Peters, who started all 13 matches in goal for KU last season and recorded six shutouts.

“Having somebody with that kind of experience who also can communicate with the backline and keep them organized, that’s huge,” Francis said. “And I think (that’s) going to be a big factor for us for sure.”

Veteran defenders Kaela Hansen, Italia Bradley and Grace Wiltgen, along with sophomores Kate Dreyer, Moira Kelley and Mackenzie Boeve, are expected to form a strong back line with the ability to both push up on offense and stand tall in front of Peters.

“They all started for us in the spring,” Francis said. “And I do think it’s going to be tough to score on us.”

2021 KU Cross Country Schedule Sept. 4 – Bob Timmons Classic (home) Sept. 24-25 – Rim Rock Farm Classic (home) Oct. 1 – Gans Creek Classic (Columbia, Mo.) Oct. 15 – Pre-National Invitational (Tallahassee, Fla.) Oct. 29 – Big 12 Championship (Stillwater, Okla.)

Nov. 12 – NCAA Midwest Regional (Iowa City, Iowa) Nov. 20 – NCAA Championship (Tallahassee, Fla.)

“(Latema) has built every season and has proven that she can race with the top runners in the conference,” Whittlesey said. “(Johnson) has shown great maturation as a runner and is in a position to perform well in every race this season.”

Courtesy of KU Athletics

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