Alabama
NCAA South Regional Championships
Hillary Cheruiyot Claims Men’s 10K Title, Four Alabama Runners Earn Individual Berths to National Meet
11/10/2023 12:01:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Cheruiyot, Victor Kiprop, Doris Lemngole and Hilda Olemomoi all qualified, individually, for the NCAA Championships after their top-four South Region finishes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The men's South Region individual crown is staying in Tuscaloosa as Hillary Cheruiyot secured the first-place finish (28:26.8), one year after teammate Victor Kiprop claimed the 2022 title. After their top-four regional finishes, Alabama had four runners earn individual, automatic berths to the NCAA Championships as Doris Lemngole and Hilda Olemomoi advanced on the women's side, and Cheruiyot and Kiprop clinched spots for the men's race.
Following Cheruiyot's title-clinching run was Kiprop who took second (28:29.9), with only three seconds separating the duo. Eliud Kipsang (29:35.6) also clocked a top-20 time to help propel the No. 18-ranked Crimson Tide men to an 86-point, third-place finish.
On the women's side, Alabama distance duo Lemngole (18:02.7) and Olemomoi (18:04.5) finished second and third, respectively, across the 6K course. The No. 16 UA women concluded the regional meet with a 98-point, fourth-place finish as Joy Gill (19:10.1) also placed in the top 20 for the Tide.
The Crimson Tide concluded Friday with six runners earning All-South Region honors for their top-25, individual finish. Lemngole (second), Olemomoi (third) and Gill (20th) made the women's list, while Cheruiyot (first), Kiprop (second) and Kipsang (20th) earned recognition on the men's side.
With the top-two teams advancing automatically to next weekend's NCAA Championships, Alabama will be looking for a pair of at-large bids when the NCAA Cross Country Selection Show streams on Saturday, November 11, at 4 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"It was great to have six individual runners earn All-South Region honors, and to repeat as the individual champion on the men's side. I'm super proud of Hillary for winning the men's race, and of Victor, Doris and Hilda for putting together strong races and earning spots at the National Championship.
"With that said, we did not have the team finishes we were looking for. Now, we will have to wait for Saturday's Selection Show in hopes that our season's body of work will land us an at-large bid."
Crimson Tide Top Finishes
- Doris Lemngole (second), Hilda Olemomoi (third) and Joy Gill (20th) all secured top-20 finishes for the UA women to claim fourth place overall
- Elka Machan (32nd) and McKenzie Daniel (41st) rounded out Alabama's scoring five
- Hillary Cheruiyot (first), Victor Kiprop (second) and Eliud Kipsang (20th) all secured top-20 finishes for the UA men to claim third place overall
- Carson Burian (26th) and Jacob Harris (37th) rounded out the Tide's scoring five
Up Next for the Crimson Tide
- As top-four individual, regional finishers, Hillary Cheruiyot, Victor Kiprop, Doris Lemngole and Hilda Olemomoi all secured a spot at next weekend's NCAA Championships
- As a team, Alabama will be looking for a pair of at-large bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championships
- The national meet will be held in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 18
Alabama Women – Individual Results | 6K
2. Doris Lemngole | 18:02.7
3. Hilda Olemomoi | 18:04.5
20. Joy Gill | 19:10.1
32. Elka Machan | 19:46.6
41. McKenzie Daniel | 20:00.8
67. Lilly Walters | 20:29.4
72. Keaton Morrison | 20:34.5
Alabama Men – Individual Results | 10K
1. Hillary Cheruiyot | 28:26.8
2. Victor Kiprop | 28:29.9
20. Eliud Kipsang | 29:35.6
26. Carson Burian | 29:44.6
37. Jacob Harris | 30:06.3
53. Kai Connor | 30:40.5
59. Hudson Hurst | 30:46.6
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Players Mentioned
