Alabama Cross Country Earns National and Conference Honors, Women Move to No. 4 Nationally
10/5/2021 3:07:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide women rise to No. 4, the highest ranking in program history, while Mercy Chelangat was named national and conference runner of the week and Victor Kiprop was named conference freshman of the week
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama cross country earned national and conference honors, while the women moved up to a program-best fourth in the national rankings and the men are 22nd this week.
Defending NCAA Champion Mercy Chelangat opened her 2021 season by winning the Joe Piane Invitational and leading the Crimson Tide to a third-place team finish. It was her fourth-consecutive individual cross country win, including last season's NCAA and SEC titles. Her performance in South Bend earned her National Runner of the Week honors from the coaches association and SEC Runner of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference office.
In his second race for the Tide, Victor Kiprop took eighth at the Joe Piane Invitational, leading Alabama to a sixth-place team finish amidst a packed field. This led him to be named the SEC Freshman of the Week. It is second weekly honor from the SEC after opening his career as the SEC Runner of the Week following his Sept. 17 win at the North Alabama Showcase.
Alabama returns to competition on Oct. 15 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. The meet marks the Tide's regular-season finale.
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