Alabama
SEC Championships
Crimson Tide Cross Country Begins Postseason at SEC Championships
10/31/2019 12:06:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Men’s 8K begins at 8:05 a.m. CT followed by the women’s 6K at 9 a.m. CT Friday morning
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama cross country program begins postseason competition at the 2019 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by University of Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 1, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Competition begins with the men's 8K at 8:05 a.m. CT on Friday, followed by the women's 6K at 9 a.m. CT. For the first time in conference history, live coverage will air on the SEC Network beginning at 8 a.m. CT. An awards ceremony will follow the women's race. Admission to the 2019 SEC Cross Championships is free and open to the public.
In the SEC Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released in August, the Crimson Tide men were slotted for second place, and its women were picked to finish seventh.
Leading the Lineup for the Men
- Competing this Friday in the SEC Championships are graduates Gilbert Kigen, and Vincent Kiprop, seniors J.P. Brinyark and Elliott Miller, juniors Elliot Gindi and Scott Platek, and freshmen Nick Ceci, Jalen Murray, Noel Rotich and Jacob Wiggers for the men.
- Last time out at the Princeton Invitational (Oct. 19), Rotich led the men with an 11th place individual finish and was named the SEC Men's Freshman of the Week following his season debut performance.
- After missing the 2018 cross country season due to injury, Kiprop returned to action at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (Oct. 4) to claim the individual crown and set a new school-best and meet record in the men's Blue Division 5 Mile (23:09.88).
- The Kericho, Kenya, native pulled away from fellow teammate Kigen (2nd, 23:13.70) in the final mile to win the individual title by nearly four seconds.
- Kiprop was also named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week and was the first Alabama runner since 2015 that had been awarded the honor during the cross country season.
Leading the Lineup for the Women
- Running for the UA women will be seniors Alexa Cruz, Brittany Tolson, Esther Gitahi, Haley Wright, Shannon Marsh and Rebecca Buteau, along with sophomores Lauren Brackin, Mercy Chelangat and Rosie Mami and freshmen Amaris Tyynismaa and Allison Wilson.
- Chelangat has led the Crimson Tide in both races she has competed in this year, placing 37th at the Pre-National Invitational with a 6K time of 20:46.6 and finishing 35th int the 5K (16:56.85) at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational
- Earlier this season, Buteau ran a 20:58.4 6K, finishing 54th at the Pre-National Invitational.
- Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week, Wilson posted the best time among all SEC freshmen at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, clocking in at 17:17.52 to place 69th.
Up Next
The Crimson Tide will turn its attention to NCAA South Regional, which will be held in Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday, Nov. 15.
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