Alabama
Florida State Invitational
Mercy Chelangat Paces Alabama Women to Runner-Up Finish at Florida State Invitational
10/2/2020 12:07:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country, Cross Country
The junior took home the women’s invitational 5K crown Friday morning
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Alabama junior Mercy Chelangat claimed the individual women's title at the Florida State Invitational at the Apalachee Regional Park Friday morning.
The Crimson Tide women finished runner-up in the 10-team field, which featured an all Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference lineup. Alabama (51) was the top SEC team in the field, finishing close behind meet host Florida State (38), while the men's squad finished eighth (201).
Love to see that 1?-2? finish! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/ziJgXv3Zc3
— Alabama Track & Field (@AlabamaTrack) October 2, 2020
Leading the Lineup for the Women
- Chelangat, a 2019 NCAA All-South Region honoree, led Alabama in a fierce competition in the women's 5K race to start the day.
- The junior won her first cross country career individual title by five seconds over fellow teammate sophomore Jami Reed (16:55.3), respectively, to lead the Tide to a second-place finish in the team standings.
- Both Chelangat and Reed clocked personal-best times in the Alabama 1-2 finish.
- Junior Esther Gitahi recorded a top-10 finish at 17:14.3, while Lauren Brackin (18th, 17:33.2) and Megan Patton (24th, 17:43.6) rounded out the top-25.
Leading the Lineup for the Men
- Sophomore Jacob Wiggers was the top finisher for the Crimson Tide men for the second consecutive race, posting 24:53.9 in the 8k to finish 14th overall.
- Following Wiggers, freshman Jace Jones crossed the finish line at 25:17.9 to place 32nd.
#FSUInvite: @AlabamaTrack goes 1-2 in the Women's Invitational 5K as Mercy Chelangat gets the win in 16:50.3 with Jami Reed not too far behind in 16:55.3.
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) October 2, 2020
Women's Results
1. Mercy Chelangat (16:50.3)
2. Jami Reed (16:55.3)
10. Esther Gitahi (17:14.3)
18. Lauren Brackin (17:33.2)
24. Megan Patton (17:43.6)
36. Riley Schelp (17:53.9)
39. Sophie Spada (17:56.8)
43. Amaris Tyynismaa (18:02.0)
62. Leahrose Mami (18:22.9)
96. Patricija Cirule (19:30.8)
97. Savannah Hossfeld (19:37.9)
98. Eliza Witherspoon (19:39.4)
Men's Results
14. Jacob Wiggers (24:53.9)
32. Jace Jones (25:17.9)
59. Garrett Suhr (25:57.4)
60. Mateo Barreto (25:57.4)
68. Alex Mielke (26:06.0)
72. Rich Saenz (26:09.5)
79. Grady Shiflet (26:35.2)
90. Jack Hawes (27:47.1)
UP NEXT
Postseason is scheduled to begin at the 2020 SEC Championships Oct. 30 in Baton Rouge, La.
For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
