Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Crimson Classic
Cross Country travels to Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Classic
10/15/2026 12:30:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee cross country teams will head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Crimson Classic on Oct.16 at the Harry Pritchett Running Course. The races will begin with the men's 8K at 8:30 a.m. CT, followed by the women's 6K at 9:20 a.m. CT.
Quick Notes:
- The Blue Raider men's and women's teams both finished in the top 10 at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational. The men recorded a team score of 168 points, while the women finished with 157 points.
- Evalyne Wambui led the Blue Raiders on the women's side crossing the finish line in second place with a time of 19:05.35.
- Elizabeth Magoma followed with a seventh-place finish in 19:38.98. Gladys Muriithi made her Blue Raider debut, finishing 37th in 20:10.67.
- Privillege Chikara finished 44th in 20:14.03, while Odilia Jepchumba placed 69th in 20:31.60. Viviana Salonia finished 133rd in 21:47.27, followed by Eleanor Towe in 135th with a time of 21:54.53.
- Allan Kiplagat led the Blue Raiders on the men's side crossing the finish line in fourth place with a time of 22:51.30.
- Gabe Allen placed 22nd with a time of 23:18.26, followed by Solomon Sayo in 26th at 23:20.41.
- Moses Lekokei finished 53rd in 23:37.02. Edger Ngibe made his Blue Raider debut, placing 63rd in 23:42.87. Kelvin Tanui finished 108th in 24:14.73, while Juan Lucas de la Fúente placed 130th in 24:50.26.
- Muriithi and Ngibe earned Conference USA weekly honors on Sept. 29 following their performances at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational. Muriithi and Ngibe earned Women's and Men's Freshman of the Week honors, respectively, marking their first weekly awards as Blue Raiders.
- The men competing are Allen, Sayo, Tanui, de la Fuente, Songok and Ngibe.
- The women competing are Magoma, Gorham, Chikara, Cole, Jepchumba, Towe, Salonia and Muriithi.
- Joining the Blue Raiders making his 2026 debut is Ricky Kipchumba
Series History
The last time the Blue Raiders competed in the Crimson Classic was in 2023. The men's team finished fourth among 21 teams with a score of 128 points, while the women's team also placed fourth among 24 teams with 175 points. Both teams competed against Power Four programs and finished ahead of Clemson, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida State.
The Crimson Classic will mark the second appearance at the meet for Lucas de la Fúente and Towe. Both competed as freshmen in 2023, with Lucas de la Fúente recording a time of 26:06.3 and Towe finishing in 21:19.9.
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