Bickle, Vaz named Cowley College August Athletes of the Month

Getting the 2023 season off to a fast start, Cowley College cross-country athletes Mason Bickle and Dheniffer Vaz were recently named the school's August Male and Female Athletes of the Month.

With the Tiger men's and women's cross country teams coming off Region VI titles and a pair of sixth-place national finishes in the 2022 season, Bickle led the way at the 2023 season-opening Wichita State University JK Gold Classic by finishing with a personal best time of 19:36.9.

Bickle has developed into his own after a year of experience at the collegiate level and has the Tiger men ranked in the top five.

Vaz was a two-time All-American in the relays during her freshman year at Cowley. She was also a part of the Lady Tigers' national runner-up team in the 4x800-meter relay during the indoor season.

She will be a driving force for the Lady Tigers in cross-country and on the track in the spring.

Vaz (20:19.2) took a significant step forward as a cross-country runner by finishing with a time of 20:19.2 in her season debut running at the JK Gold Classic.