Men?s Cross Country Team Wins Crimson Classic
9/14/2007 12:00:00 AM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The Alabama men's cross country team cruised to an easy victory on their home course in the Crimson Classic led by sophomore Emmanuel Bor and junior Augustus Maiyo who finished first and second respectively.
For Bor, it was his second consecutive Crimson Classic title, while Maiyo posted his third top-3 finish in a row, a streak the includes a third place finish a year ago and a win in 2005.
"I was really pleased with the guys effort today," Alabama cross country coach Joe Walker said. "It's really hot and humid out here. The storm kind of passed through and the humidity was up in the 80 percent range. That makes it tough."
Alabama won the meet with 23 points on the Harry Pritchett Cross Country Course, finishing 27 points in front of second place Mississippi State and 60 ahead of LSU.
Bor turned in a 24:16.13 to take first, followed closely by Maiyo's 24:17.62. LSU's Joesph Simichimba was 22 seconds back in third place.
"Up front I thought the guys did a great job," Walker said. "Our top two looked really relaxed and comfortable. They ran the way they are supposed to run.
Junior Abraham Kutingala took fifth with a 24:57.39 while freshman Andrew Kirwa was sixth at 25:03.03. Junior Titus Koeh rounded out the Tide's top-5 with a 25:15.95 ninth-place finish, giving Alabama five of the meet's top 10 performances.
"We were a little bit off at the 3 and the 4 spot," Walker said. "Abraham Kutingala was sick last night. He really came back strong today. Titus Koeh was coming off sickness as well. So, two guys that weren't feeling great really stepped it up and ran tough. That's a good sign for us."
Alabama returns to action Sept. 29 at the Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Ore.
