The Division I Cross Country Championships took place at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday. Alabama junior Doris Lemngole took home her second consecutive national championship and set a new championship record time at 18:25.4.
The women overall finished 20th, led by Lemngole along with 11th- and 19th-place finishes by freshmen Caren Kiplagat and Cynthia Jemutai, respectively. The Crimson Tide women competed with four other runners, all of whom finished between 250th and 260th.
“Doris delivered another remarkable performance to defend her national title,” head coach Dan Waters said. “The women continued their standard with yet another top-20 placement.”
On the men’s side, Alabama placed sixth overall and was once again led by sophomore Dismus Lokira, who finished 11th. Junior Dennis Kipruto was 26th, followed by freshman Nelson Pariken and sophomore Ezekiel Pitireng in 54th and 91st.
Waters described it as the men’s “best team finish in years.”
Women’s 6K:
- Doris Lemngole, junior — first, 18:25.4
- Caren Kiplagat, freshman — 11th, 18:58.8
- Cynthia Jemutai, freshman — 19th, 19:05.6
- Leah Kleekamp, senior — 250th, 21:25.3
- Kaylie Crews, graduate student — 255th, 21:37.8
- Meriel Rowland, sophomore — 259th, 21:55.3
- Autumn Headrick, junior — 260th, 23:11.8
Men’s 10K:
- Dismus Lokira, sophomore — 11th, 28:48.5
- Dennis Kipruto, junior — 26th, 28:57.4
- Nelson Pariken, freshman — 54th, 29:16.6
- Ezekiel Pitireng, sophomore — 91st, 29:32.2
- Carson Burian, graduate student — 119th, 29:45.0
- Evan Trapp, sophomore — 169th, 30:11.6
- Kai Connor, senior — 195th, 30:25.3
“Today was a tremendous showing for our program,” Waters said. “Overall, I couldn’t be prouder of the way our program competed and represented Alabama on the national stage.”
Indoor track and field season will begin next month, with the Crimson Tide traveling to the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Dec. 5.
