The only thing Megan Manthe did wrong Saturday was misquote her coach, because her running during the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm was nearly flawless.

“Like coach always says, ‘This is cross country weather, we just let the football players use it,’ said Manthe, a KU junior who won the women’s 5,000 meters in a personal-record time of 18:38.87.

Manthe’s quote was news, however, to KU coach Stanley Redwine.

“I’ve never heard that before,” Redwine said with a chuckle. “But it’s a good one.”

So was Saturday, as Kansas couldn’t help but cooperate with the wonderful weather — winning both the men’s and women’s titles in the Jayhawks’ lone home meet of the season.

“Manthe did an excellent job today, she’s definitely going to be happy about that,” Redwine said. “She had the best time on the course, it was a beautiful day and Kansas as a whole did well. We’re very excited.”

Six Jayhawk women placed in the top 10, helping Kansas score 23 points. Butler County Community College took second with 60.

KU senior Laura Lavoie, last year’s Rim Rock winner, was held out “to get in a little better shape,” Redwine said, but several Jayhawks made up for her absence.

Senior Paige Higgins finished third in 19:06.34, and KU juniors Arrah Nielsen (19:54.55) and Monika Spinger (19.55.75) finished fifth and sixth.

Kansas University runner Megan Manthe hustles during the women's 5,000 meters. The KU men's and women's cross country squads each took first place Saturday at the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm.

Four KU men finished in the top 10 in their 8,000-meter race, helping the Jayhawks finish with 26 points.

Freshman Benson Chesang just missed a victory in his first-ever KU race.

Chesang, who is from Ravine, Kenya, and ran track for KU in the spring, made a late push that put him in a neck-and-neck battle down the stretch with Cowley County Community College’s Josephat Boit. Boit barely won the battle, crossing the line in 25:16.34; Chesang finished in 25:16.80.

“Yeah, I’ve been in a race that was that close before,” said Chesang, who said he was out of shape and battling a cold during the race. “It made me very excited about getting back out there, though.”

KU junior Chris Jones, who took fifth in 26:04.05, and sophomore Cameron Schwehr, who finished sixth in 26:14.20, set personal records Saturday. Junior Dan Ferguson finished 10th in 26:46.24.

Manthe said Saturday’s start was great.

“It was a really good first meet,” she said. “A great day, no rain, no heat, just a lot of sun shining on you.”

The Jayhawks’ next action is next week at the Kansas State Wildcat Invitational in Topeka.

Haskell Indian Nations University also participated Saturday. In the men’s race, Theo Round Face placed 41st in 29:33.57, and Steven Ovah was 42nd in 29:40.09. For the women, Lisa Summers placed No. 20 in 21:31.47, and Carrie Whitlow was 32nd in 22:58.50.

KU runner Benson Chesang, right, chases Cowley County Community College's Josephat Boit during the men's 8,000-meter race. The KU men's and women's squads each took first place Saturday at the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm.