AUGUSTA, KS – The potential for big things is in the works for the Cougars this season. After the first race of the year, the confidence in meeting that potential just got a boost.

The Colorado Christian women's cross country squad won the JK Gold on Saturday afternoon in a closely contested race with the host Shockers from Wichita State.

It is the first team event win for the women since head coach Jon Poag took over the program six years ago.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Cougars won the first tiebreaker to claim the team title. Both Wichita State and Colorado Christian each had 33 points when their first five runner finished. The Cougars sixth finisher placed two spots higher the Shockers runner.

After Yazmine Wright won the race for the Shockers in a time of 17:34.10, Paige Tack (18:13.66) and Shannon King (18:20.83) crossed second and third respectively for Colorado Christian.

Wichita State's second and third finishers scored five and six points respectively before the Cougars had a slew of finishers. Freshman, and racing in her home state, Alysia Wagner registered a time of 19:05.59 to place seventh overall as the Cougars third finisher.

Christy Shuster (19:27.25) and Michelle Kuipers (19:37.29) completed the scoring for Colorado Christian as they ended the race in 10th and 11th.

Vital to the winning effort was Callie Ketner finishing 12th overall. The junior finished two spots better, and 26 seconds faster, than the sixth Wichita State finisher to win the tiebreaker and secure the top team finish.

UP NEXT: Colorado Christian makes a short trip to the Roadrunner Invitational hosted by MSU Denver at Washington Park on Friday, Sept. 17.