When Jed Helker first arrived on Wichita State’s campus, many around the cross country program felt he wasn’t ready for the Division-I level. So, the Shockers decided it would be best to redshirt him.
Helker joined the Shockers after running at Edmond Senior High School, but races at the high school level were only 6k long. Once he arrived in Wichita, he had to make the adjustment to an 8k or 10k race and was given his first year to adapt to the increased distance.
“Especially cross country, I had a lot of work to do,” Helker said.