University of Alabama junior Antibahs Kosgei captured the SEC Championship in College Station, Texas, after finishing the race with a time of 23:24.20. Kosgei lead the entire race and is the first Alabama runner to win the SEC title since 2007. Kosgei earned the SEC Athlete of the Year award after finishing first in the race.
“Coming into the SEC meet, I knew I was faster than the other guys,” said Kosgei in a press release. “I knew I was going to win this race.”
The men’s team finished ninth overall in a 8K race, tallying up 209 points for the Tide. Junior Conner Thompson was the second runner to cross the finish line, earning a time of 24:21.60. Junior Robbie Farham-Rose was the only other male runner to finish in the top 50, crossing the finishing line at 24:48.70.
Sophomores Conner Ferrentino (25:10.40) and Garrett Bull (25:25.10) crossed the finish line at 67th and 75th place, being the Crimson Tide’s third and fourth finishers. Junior Evan Prizy (25:50.20) joined seniors Eric Sivill (26:07.70), Park Deuel (26:15.20), and Justin Ahalt (26:49.10) as the other Alabama competitors to finish the race.
The women finished fourth overall in a 6K race, gaining 143 points in the race. Senior Katelyn Greenleaf ran to a top-10 finish, crossing the finish line in seventh place with a time of 20:06.90. Redshirt freshman Rachel Reddy, who sustained an injury in this month’s Crimson Classic race, finished 16th in the race with a time of 20:25.20. Reddy earned a spot on the First-Team All SEC squad after the race.
Alabama had three more runners finish in the top 50. Senior Meropi Panagiotou ran for a time of 21:05.70, finishing 41st. Senior Rebecca Stover (21:09.00) and sophomore Caroline Barlow (21:11.70) finished 43rd and 44th. Sophomore Jessica Gray (21:24:40), junior Allison Gregg (21:35.80), sophomore Veronica Lyle (21:40.60), freshman Kaitlin York (21:43.90), sophomore Emily Edwards (21.44.80) and sophomore Alison Ringle (22:11.20) were the other Alabama runners to cross the finish line for the Crimson Tide.
Both Arkansas teams captured the team titles, with the men earning 25 points, while the women finished with 38. Mississippi State finished second in the women’s category, tallying 95 points for their side. Texas A&M was the runner up in the men’s category with 98 points.
Alabama Cross Country will be back in action on Nov. 13 as they compete in the NCAA South Region Championships, which will take place in Tuscaloosa Ala.
