Alabama
NCAA Championships
Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat Second at NCAA Cross Country Championships, Leads UA Women to 15th-Place Team Finish
11/20/2021 3:31:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide women posted their second-consecutive top-15 finish, while the men finished 27th
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Alabama's Mercy Chelangat finished second at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, leading the Crimson Tide women to a 15th-place team finish with 428 points. The Alabama men took 27th place with 650 points.
Chelangat moved her way up through the pack throughout the race, posting a time of 19:29.3 to take second, giving her the program's top-two finishes at the national championships after winning last year's NCAA title. Flomena Asekol was next for the Tide in 29th place, followed by Esther Gitahi in 55th. Jami Reed and Megan Patton rounded out the Tide's scoring five, taking 193rd and 235th, respectively.
The Crimson Tide men spent most of the race firmly in the top 20, but rookie Victor Kiprop was unable to finish the competition, moving UA to 27th in the final standings. Eliud Kipsang led the way for the men, taking 48th place with a time of 29:37.6. Hillary Cheruiyot was next for the Tide in 53rd place, with Paul Selden (209), Carson Burian (219) and Jack Hawes (224) rounding out the men's scoring five.
Competing in their 10th NCAA Cross Country Championships, the Tide women posted their fourth top-15 finish and ninth in the top 20, while the men, competing at their 21st national championship, posted their 21st top-30 finish. Saturday's championship race marked just the second time in program history that both the men and women raced at the championships in the same season.
Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"That was a heck of a race from Mercy. She came really close to repeating as national champion, coming in second in a tough, tough field. Our women faced several challenges this season and they just kept battling, taking 15th nationally. We're super proud of the way they persevered and what they were able to accomplish. For our men, today was a learning experience. Finishing 27th isn't who we are, but we have a very young team, who hadn't been in a race with that kind of intensity, talent and depth. We'll be better because they've been through it now. While we didn't have the finish we hoped for, the men had a season we can build on and we're excited for the future."
Women's Team Finishes
1. NC State 84 pts
2. BYU 122 pts
3. New Mexico 130 pts
4. Colorado 187 pts
5. Notre Dame 215 pts
6. Stanford 233 pts
7. Minnesota 313 pts
8. Arkansas 328 pts
9. Iowa State 332 pts
10. Ole Miss 350 pts
11. Washington 366 pts
12. Wisconsin 376 pts
13. Oklahoma State pts
14. North Carolina 405 pts
15. Alabama 428 pts
16. Michigan State 438 pts
17. Colorado State 455 pts
18. Georgetown 464 pts
19. Florida State 468 pts
20. Utah 483 pts
Alabama Women's Finishes
2. Mercy Chelangat 19:29.3
29. Flomena Asekol 19:51.0
55. Esther Gitahi 20:09.8
193. Jami Reed 21:09.1
235. Megan Patton 21:56.5
239. Leahrose Mami 22:13.1
250. Riley Schelp 23:14.7
Men's Team Finishes
1. Northern Arizona 92 pts
2. Iowa State 137 pts
3. Oklahoma State 186 pts
4. Arkansas 195 pts
5. Stanford 236 pts
6. Tulsa 237 pts
7. BYU 246 pts
8. Colorado 249 pts
9. Notre Dame 290 pts
10. Wake Forest 356 pts
11. Wisconsin 361 pts
12. Harvard 364 pts
13. Washington 373 pts
14. Texas 393 pts
15. Ole Miss 395 pts
16. Portland 430 pts
17. Air Force 453 pts
18. North Carolina 460 pts
19. Syracuse 485 pts
20. Florida State 517 pts
27. Alabama 640 pts
Alabama Men's Finishes
48. Eliud Kipsang 29:37.6
53. Hillary Cheruiyot 29:41.5
209. Paul Selden 31:22.1
219. Carson Burian 31:34.7
224. Jack Hawes [SO] 31:40.8
245. Gavin Saacke 245
DNF Victor Kiprop
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