Crimson Tide Cross Country Duo Earn SEC Weekly Honors

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama Cross Country's Victor Kiprop and Hilda Olemomoi both earned Southeastern Conference honors for the second time this season following standout performances at the Joe Piane Invitational.

Kiprop, who was named the National Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, earned SEC Runner of the Week accolades for the second time this season. Olemomoi was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time in her rookie season.

Victor Kiprop – SEC Runner of the Week

Victor Kiprop earned SEC Runner of the Week honors for the second time this season
The league honor came on the heels of being named National Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday
His National Athlete of the Week honor was Alabama's first since 2019
Kiprop earned the weekly honors after winning the prestigious Joe Piane Invitational in South Bend, Ind., Friday morning
In a tough field filled with ranked teams and All-American runners, the Crimson Tide sophomore ran a 23:16.5 over the five-mile course to take top honors
He led Alabama to a third-place team finish, bettering three ranked teams and two that received votes in the latest poll
Kiprop is two-for-two in individual races this season after opening his year by winning the North Alabama Showcase

Hilda Olemomoi – SEC Freshman of the Week

In a field that included the No.1, No. 3 and No. 8 teams as well as another ranked team and five that received votes in the last rankings, Hilda Olemomoi led the Crimson Tide to a third-place team finish with a third-place individual race after posting a time of 16:05.0
The top freshman finisher and the second SEC finisher behind teammates Mercy Chelangat, Olemomoi and her UA teammates were the only runners in the league to finish in the top-25 individually
Olemomoi was also the only freshman among the top-10 individual finishers
Two races in for the Crimson Tide, Olemomoi has earned SEC Freshman of the Week following both contests

Up Next

After starting the season with a trio of road meets, Alabama hosts the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday, October 14

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