Cross Country Set to Compete in the Conference USA Championship on Saturday

Saturday, November 2

Oxford, Ala.

Middle Tennessee

Conference USA Championship

11/1/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

By: Jayce Standridge, MTSU Athletic Communications

Oxford, Ala. - The Blue Raider's cross country team is set to compete in the Conference USA Championship on Saturday, November 2nd hosted by Jacksonville State.

Both Middle Tennessee Men and Women were voted preseason favorites to take the championship this season after sweeping both last year in Bowling Green, Ky. The men are seeking their seventh conference championship, while the women are looking for their sixth.

Conference USA will also announce the CUSA Freshman of the Year as well as the Athlete of the year on both sides. Odilia Jepchumba and Allan Kiplagat each have three freshman and one athlete of the week awards this season and hope to add to their trophy shelf this weekend.

Running for the men, Allan Kiplagat has finished in the top 10 in each race this season. Following him very closely is Brian Kiptoo and his consistent finishes in the top 15 for the Blue Raiders. Carmelo Cannizzaro and Jacinto Gaspar have been very similar in their finishes going back and forth in who places higher. Last season's CUSA fourth place finisher, Vincent Yegon, is looking to bounce back after his past two races in Missouri and Texas. Juan Lucas, Sammy Sang, Quinn Deguira, and Brendan Nagle have been improving throughout the season and look forward to putting their all on the line on Saturday.

On the women's side, Odilia Jepchumba has been the top runner for MTSU this season finishing top 10 in two of her three meets this season. Fellow freshman, Sandra Maiyo, has been the second finisher for the Blue Raiders for the last three meets. Followed by Eleanor Towe and Nancy Maiyo who have both been consistent scorers for Middle Tennessee this season. Lauren Cole, and Emma Thomas both set PRs last meet at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. Agnes Chepkurui and Privilege Chikara haven't competed in many races this year, but look forward to Oxford.

The Blue Raiders are excited for the ability to defend their sweep of the 2023 Conference USA Championship, and for the possibility of competing for a national championship later this month.

The women will run first at 8:30 a.m. and the men follow at 9:30 a.m. The forecast for Saturday morning is cloudy and will be around 70 degrees at race time. The races will be streamed on ESPN+ (Link is below).

Follow Along
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country and track and field on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField), and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).

Live Results
Women's ESPN+ Broadcast
Men's ESPN+ Broadcast