ABILENE ? Both the ACU men's and women's cross country teams ran away from the competition to take home titles at the ACU Jon Murray Invitational Friday night at Sherrod residential park.
The ACU women were paced by senior Olha Kryv'yak, who finished the 5k event first in 19:12. The next three runners to cross the finish line were also Wildcats. Loice Cheboi, who finished first over Kryv'yak two weeks ago at the ACU Cross Country Classic, finished in second place with a time of 19:22. Mary Mwangi (who ran unattached) finished third in 19:44, followed by Denise Morgan in 19:53.
The Lady Wildcats finished with 19 points. Angelo State placed second with 36 points, and Western Texas College finished third with 75 points.
On the men's side, the first seven runners to cross the finish line were Wildcats. The ACU men were again led by two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Nicodemus Naimadu. Naimadu finished the 8k event in first place with a time of 26:33. Laurent Ngirkamaro finished second in 26:39; Philip Birgen finished third in 26:54; Serge Gasore finished fourth in 27:01; Julius Nyango finished fifth in 27:09; Johnny Kimani (who ran unattached) finished sixth in 28:39; and Alberic Nkurunziza (who ran unattached) finished seventh in 29:04.
The Wildcats finished with 15 points. Angelo State finished second with 45 points, and Western Texas College finished third with 71 points.
The Wildcats will return to action Saturday, Sept. 30, when both the men's and women's teams compete at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla.
