Alabama
Nuttycombe Invitational
Alfred Chelanga and Gilbert Kigen Post Top-12 Finishes at the Nuttycombe Invitational
9/28/2018 4:29:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide seniors finish 10th and 12th, respectively in race featuring many of the nation’s top runners
MADISON, Wis. – Alabama senior All-Americans Alfred Chelanga and Gilbert Kigen posted top-12 finishes in their season debuts for the men's cross country team at the 2018 Nuttycombe Invitational Friday in Madison, Wis.
Chelanga finished 10th in the 8,000-meter race in 23:33.8 with Kigen right behind him in 12th at 23:35.1 on a cool, overcast afternoon at the University of Wisconsin's Zimmer Championship Course. Juniors J.P. Brinyark and Clay Austell turned in times of 25:04.7 and 25:56.3 as Alabama's third and fourth finishers.
"I thought Alfred and Gilbert did a great job for their first time out this year," UA head coach Dan Waters said. "This is always a highly-competitive meet and to see them finish as well as they did in their opening race against some of the nation's best runners is encouraging."
Alabama finished fourth in the women's "B" race and were led by junior Rebecca Buteau, who completed the 6,000-meter circuit in 21:34.6 to finish 17th. Fellow junior Esther Gitahi finished 31st in 21:50.0 in her Alabama debut. Senior Nicole Gardner finished 48th in 222:18.1 while juniors Caroline Brooks (22:26.3) and Haley Wright (22:29.4) finished 57th and 61st to round out the scoring for the Tide.
Michigan State won the "B" race with 31 points, followed by Tennessee (65), New Mexico (86), Alabama (131) and Northern Arizona (132).
Alabama will be in action again next weekend at the Watson Ford Invitational on Oct. 6 in Clinton, Miss.
Nuttycombe Invitational
Friday, Sept. 28, 2018
Zimmer Championship Course
Madison, Wis.
Host: University of Wisconsin
Alabama Individual Men's 8,000 Meters Championship Results
10. Alfred Chelanga, Sr., 23:33.5
12. Gilbert Kigen, Sr., 23:34.8
174. J.P. Brinyark, Jr., 25:04.7
214. Clay Austell, Jr., 25:56.3
DNF. Elliott Miller, Jr.
DNF. Noel Rotich, Fr.
DNF. Hayden Blalock, So.
Women's 6,000 Meters "B" Race Team Results
1. Michigan State (31)
2. Tennessee (65)
3. New Mexico (86)
4. ALABAMA (131)
5. Northern Arizona (132)
Alabama Individual Women's Results
17. Rebecca Buteau, Jr., 21:34.6
31. Esther Gitahi, Jr., 21:51.0
48. Nicole Gardner, Sr., 22:18.1
57. Caroline Brooks, Jr., 22:26.3
61. Haley Wright, Jr., 22:29.4
67. Shannon Marsh, So., 22:33.9
72. Maddie Dearborn, So., 22:41.1
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Players Mentioned
