Graham and Kipkosgei post top-six showings in College Station

Men's 8K Results | Women's 6K Results
 

---

COLLEGE STATION – Against a field loaded with hundreds of competitors from around the Southland Conference and NCAA South Central region, Wildcats Carnley Graham and Kevin Kipkosgei Saturday led their teams once more with a pair of top-six finishes at the Texas A&M Invitational. 

Kipkosgei placed fifth in the wet and soggy men's 8K at the Watts Cross Country Course – home to this year's regional meet – with a time of 24:40.1. The freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, finished :57 seconds behind winner Emmanuel Rotich of Tulane (23:43.3) in addition to UTRGV's Abraham Chirchir (23:51.9), Lamar's Jamie Crowe (24:00.6), and Henry Lelei of Old Army TC (24:30.0). 

Rounding out the top 10 in a field of 118 runners were competitors from Tarleton State, Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana, Old Army TC and Lamar; however, it was host Texas A&M that won the men's team title with 69 points as the Aggies had its best five runners place between 11th and 16th place.

Tarleton State was second with 88 points followed by Lamar with 91 points. Southland schools Southeastern La. and Sam Houston State tied for eighth with 204 points and ACU finished 11th of 14 teams with 268 points as the Wildcats' best finisher after Kipkosgei was freshman Levi Chambers (45th, 26:07.0).

"The men did not have a great day today," said head cross country coach Jarvis Jelen. "Our packs got broken up too early and we had a top guy drop out.

"We have a really young team and the first half of this season has given us a lot of difficulties. That being said, we are capable of closing this season well if the guys learn from their mistakes and we get a couple guys completely healthy."

Junior Carnley Graham was the fastest Southland Conference competitor today with her sixth-place 6K time of 22:05.0. The individual winner was Mercy Chelangat of UTRGV who crushed the 116-woman field with a mark of 21:14.1 that was :33 seconds faster than runner-up Lourdes Vivas Di Lorenzi of Rice (21:47.9), while third-place honors went to Texas A&M-Kelsie Warren (21:50.4).

The TCU tandem of Mariah Castillo and Evenlyn Mandel placed right ahead of Graham with respective fourth and fifth-place times of 21:57.8 and 22:01.7.

Texas A&M had five additional runners all place among the top 20, leading it to a sweep of the team titles as the women posted 64 points. The Horned Frogs were a close second with 72 points followed by UTRGV (87), Rice (89) and Lamar (151). ACU was second among all Southland Conference teams with 199 points that was good for eighth place (13 teams). Southeastern La. edged Sam Houston State by seven points, 242-249, for ninth place.

Wildcats Hannah Marut (35th, 23:21.0), Sarah Wagler (45th, 23:42.2), Soren Underwood (56th, 24:08.8) and Briahna Gerlach (57th, 24:17.8) all placed among the top half of the individual standings.

"The women did a good job overall," said Jelen. "Our fitness is in a good place right now, but we still need to tighten up our main pack considerably. Looking into the second half of the season, we have the tools to be very competitive in our conference if we continue to learn and grow in our mental performance."

ACU cross country is off from competition until Saturday, Oct. 6 when the Wildcats visit San Antonio for their annual trip to the UIW Invitational. This is ACU's second-to-last meet leading into the Southland Conference Championships at McNeese on Friday, Oct. 26. Select individuals also will compete at McMurry's Bill Libby Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 13, which will take place at ACU's home XC course off EN 10th Street.