Since joining the Wildcats in 2010, senior Lauren Jaqua has been a leader on the Baker University women’s cross country team.

That tradition continued Friday when the standout sprinted past 153 runners at the ESU Planet Sub Invitational in Emporia. With the first-place performance, Jaqua earned her second Heart of America Athletic Conference Runner of the Week award in three weeks.

Jaqua’s time of 19:08 in the 5,000-meter run was at least six seconds faster than any other runner, which helped the Wildcats take home their second first-place finish of the season.

Fellow senior Megan Rosa followed closely behind Jaqua, posting a time of 19:24, which was good for a top-three finish. Senior Ashley McBride rounded out the Wildcats in the top ten with a seventh-place performance. Freshman Jillian Benson also had a strong showing for BU, recording a 19th-place finish with a time of 20:21.

Four meets into the season, the Wildcats are just one spot back from breaking into the NAIA top 25 coaches’ poll. However, BU is still the highest ranked team in the HAAC.

On the men’s side, freshman Corey Matteson led the seventh place Wildcats in the 8,000-meter run with a time of 28:06. Junior Vincent Tadakoro finished just six places behind Matteson with a mark of 28:14. Freshman Jamie Sturery rounded out the top three for Baker with a 64th-place finish.

BU will have the weekend off but is scheduled to return to Lawrence for the NAIA Pre-Nationals on Oct. 12.