Blue Raiders set for C-USA Championships action

Saturday, October 31

9:00 AM CT

Middle Tennessee

Conference USA Championship

10/30/2020 12:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee State men's and women's cross-country teams are set to open postseason competition at the 2020 C-USA Championships Saturday. The conference meet will be hosted by UAB at the Veterans Park in Meadowbrook, Ala.

C-USA Cross Country Championships:
Championship Central | Men's Race Stream | Women's Race Stream

The 2020 C-USA Cross Country Championships will open with the women's 6K final at 9 a.m. The men's 8K championship will follow at 10 a.m.

2019 C-USA Championship Rewind:
The Blue Raider women picked up their second team title at the 2019 C-USA Championships. The team beat Southern Miss by 32 points to secure the C-USA trophy.

Middle Tennessee State saw three of its women finish inside the top 10, led by Eusila Chepkemei, who finished as the individual champion. Chepkemei and Joice Jebor, who took third, received First-Team All-Conference honors. Sophomore Pamela Kosgei and Freshman Mercy Chepkurui were named to the Second Team, as they finished eighth and 11th overall. Faith Rono and Rachel Kigen finished 19th and 20th to earn Third Team All-Conference honors.

The Blue Raider men also captured the C-USA Championship, marking the first time in program history the Blue Raider men's and women's cross-country teams swept the Conference USA Championships.

Individual champion Jacob Choge finished first overall, leading the Blue Raiders to the team title. Choge was also named Outstanding Senior of the Meet. Kigen Chemadi took second place, and Thobile Mosito finished seventh. Choge, Chemadi, and Mosito were all named to the First Team All-Conference.

Season at a Glance:
The men and women already have experience at the Veterans Park course as their only other meet of the 2020 season was the UAB Invitational on Oct. 16.

2019 Conference USA champion Eusila Chepkemei finished first on the team and 13th overall in a field, while sophomore Faith Rono captured a new 6K personal record. Francisca Jebor made her cross-country debut after only competing in indoor track and field last year, and Caitlin Cunningham made her Blue Raider debut.

The Blue Raider men were led by three-time C-USA champion Jacob Choge as the senior placed 24th overall. Sophomore Stephen Mengich recorded a personal best time in the 8K race, and freshman Isaiah Strauel made his Blue Raider debut.

Coaches Thoughts:
"It has been a different year with Covid-19. The training and racing haven't been the same, and it hasn't been like any other season that I have coached in my life," Keith Vroman added. "The men's and women's team has been training very well…. I'm just happy we're getting our season in, and it's great to have the kids competing again."

Follow Us:
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country this fall on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField), and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).