Cross Country Places Three Runners in the Top 10 at the Southern Showcase

Friday, September 13

Huntsville, Ala.

Middle Tennessee

Southern Showcase

9/13/2024 3:52:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

By: Jayce Standridge, MTSU Athletic Communications

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - On a windy and wet Friday morning for the MTSU cross country team at one of the biggest meets in the country this season, MTSU placed three top 10 runners, two in the men's race and one in women's race, at the Southern Showcase in the Rocket City.

The men started out the morning with their 8k race finishing 10th out of 47 teams from all across the southeast. Brian Kiptoo continued his impressive start to the season, finishing in sixth with a time of 23:46.79. Freshman Allan Kiplagat was not far behind with a time of 23:55.81, placing seventh. Juco transfer Jacinto Gaspar placed 74th in his first race as a Blue Raider.

The women rounded out the meet placing 12th out of 49 teams in the 5k. In her first race at the collegiate level, freshman Odilia Jepchumba led the Blue Raiders with a time of 16:52.11 and finished sixth out of 471 runners in the showcase. Sandra Maiyo kept up with the pace, finishing just outside of the top 30 with her 34th place time of 17:31.47.

Thoughts from Head Coach Keith Vroman: "Overall the team ran well. The women's group of freshmen and sophomores put up a lot of personal bests. On the men's side Brian and Allan worked well up front. Both teams just have some work to do to be ready for the Championship season."

RACE RESULTS
Friday, September 13 | Southern Showcase

Men's 8k – 307 points – 10th out of 47 teams

Place	Name	Time
6	Brian Kiptoo	23:46.79
7	Allan Kiplagat	23:55.81
74	Jacinto Gaspar	25:19.75
116	Carmelo Cannizzaro	25:43.71
186	Sammy Sang	26:24.12

Women's 5000m – 356 points – 12th place out of 49 teams

Place	Name	Time
6	Odilia Jepchumba	16:52.11
34	Sandra Maiyo	17:31.47
107	Eleanor Towe	18:24.18
122	Nancy Maiyo	18:33.06
195	Hailee Gorham	19:14.92

Next Up
The Blue Raiders will travel to Columbia, Missouri to compete in the Gans Creek Invitational at the University of Missouri on September 27th. This premier meet will host many teams from across the country and will be a great tuneup for the Blue Raiders before Conference USA Championship in early November.

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