Alabama
UC Riverside Invitational
Kiprop, Kigen and Chelanga Sweep Top Three Spots at UC Riverside Invitational
9/16/2017 1:06:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Trio make Crimson Tide cross country debut in style with dominant performance
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Alabama juniors Vincent Kiprop, Gilbert Kigen and Alfred Chelanga finished 1-2-3 in their UA cross country debut to cap Alabama's day at UC Riverside Invitational in Riverside, Calif., on Saturday.
Running in the men's open 8,000-meter race, the trio finished nearly simultaneously with Kiprop claiming first place and Kigen second in identical times of 24:23.0. Chelanga was third in 24:23.3.
The race was one of four the Tide entered at Saturday's competition as the men's and women's squads split their runners between invitational and open races, with the Tide women finishing second in the invitational 6,000-meter race and fourth in the open 5,000-meter contest. The men finished 11th in the invitational 8,000 meters and did not compete in team scoring in the open 8,000-meter race.
Arkansas won both women's races, while Southern Utah took both men's crowns.
"This was a great weekend for us," head coach Dan Waters said following the meet. "We came out here with some specific competition goals and we achieved them. That puts us in a good position as we head into our next meet. I was impressed with the way our women ran today. They ran well tactically, gave great effort and really competed in both races. On the men's side, what can you say about Vincent, Gilbert and Alfred? They looked great and they still have a lot left in the tank. In the invitational, I thought we had some guys who ran well and were tested in a way that will benefit them down the road."
In the women's 6,000-meter race, sophomore McKenzie Yanek led the Tide across the finish line, placing 18th (15th collegiate finisher) in 20:37.3. Fellow sophomores Elisabeth Danis and Rebecca Buteau finished 20th (16th) and 25th (18th), respectively. Danis finished in 20:39.1 while Buteau clocked a time of 20:47.0. Junior Jessica Gray finished 43rd (33rd) in 21:16.9. Junior Nicole Gardner rounded out the scoring for UA, finished 44th (34th) in 21:17.0.
In the women's open 5,000-meter race, freshman Maddie Dearborn finished seventh overall (sixth collegian) in 17:45.5 to lead the Tide. Redshirt freshman Shannon Marsh finished 13th (12th) in 17:57.7. Senior Alison Ringle was 34th (26th) in 18:31.6. Sophomore Caroline Brooks was the Tide's fourth finisher, running 18:40.7 to come in 52nd (40th). Freshman Margot Dooley was 61st (46th) in 18:51.0 in her collegiate debut.
In the men's invitational 8,000-meter race, sophomore J.P. Brinyark was the Tide's top runner, finishing 46th (38th collegian) in 25:02. Senior Garrett Bull finished 62nd (53rd) in 25:16.5, followed by freshman Chase Buckelew, who placed 72nd (61st) in 25:20.9 in his collegiate debut; sophomore Elliott Miller, 86th (71st) in 25:30.4 and sophomore Clay Austell, 93rd (77th) in 25:35.5.
Both teams will be off next weekend before traveling to South Bend, Ind. for Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational on Sept. 29. The women's 5,000-meter race will take place at 1 p.m. CT, followed by the men's five-mile race at 1:45 p.m.
UC Riverside Invitational
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017
UCR Ag Ops Course
Riverside, Calif.
Host: University of California, Riverside
Men's 8,000 Meters Invitational Team Results (Top 5)
1. Southern Utah (56)
2. Occidental (59)
3. Pomona-Pitzer (91)
4. Loyola Marymount (96)
5. Cal Poly Pomona (182)
Alabama did not compete in the team competition in this race
Alabama Individual Men's Results
8,000 Meters- Open
1. Vincent Kiprop, Jr., 24:23.0
2. Gilbert Kigen, Jr., 24.23.0
3. Alfred Chelanga, Jr., 24:23.3
Men's 8,000 Meters Invitational Team Results (Top 5)
1. Southern Utah (30)
2. Chico State (88)
3. Utah Valley (140)
4. Cal State Fullerton (217)
5. Loyola Marymount (224)
11. ALABAMA (313)
8,000 Meters- Invitational (Collegiate Finish)
38. J.P. Brinyark, So., 25:02.8
53. Garrett Bull, Sr., 25:16.5
61. Chase Buckelew, Fr., 25:20.9
71. Elliott Miller, So., 25:30.4
77. Clay Austell, So., 25:35.5
87. Hayden Blalock, Fr., 25:44.1
105. Nathan Gamble, Fr., 26:09.0
134. Oliver Rigg, So., 26:41.0
140. Evan Prizy, Sr., 26:55.8
Women's 6,000 Meters Invitational Team Results (Top 5 Collegiate)
1. Arkansas (36)
2. ALABAMA (72)
3. Utah Valley (192)
4. Cal State San Marcos (205)
5. Southern Utah (207)
Alabama Individual Women's Results
6,000 Meters- Invitational (Collegiate Finish)
15. McKenzie Yanek, So., 20:37.3
20. Elisabeth Danis, So., 20:39.1
25. Rebecca Buteau, So., 20:47.0
33. Jessica Gray, Jr., 21:15.9
34. Nicole Gardner, Jr., 21:17.0
37. Rachael Reddy, Jr., 21:20.9
45. Caroline Barlow, Sr., 21:29.9
Women's 5,000 Meters Open Team Results (Top 5 Collegiate)
1. Arkansas (24)
2. Cal Poly Pomona (71)
3. Cal State Stanislaus (130)
4. ALABAMA (139)
5. Pomona Pitzer (269)
5,000 Meters- Open (Collegiate Finish)
6. Maddie Dearborn, Fr., 17:45.5
12. Shannon Marsh, R-Fr., 17:57.7
26. Alison Ringle, Sr., 18:31.6
40. Caroline Brooks, So., 18:40.7
46. Margot Dooley, Fr., 18.51.0
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