Alabama Trio Earns Yearly SEC Cross Country Awards, Eight Earn All-South Region
11/15/2022 2:24:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Victor Kiprop was named SEC Runner of the Year, Hilda Olemomoi earned SEC Freshman of the Year and Dan Waters was voted the men’s and women’s SEC Coach of the Year
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On the heels of winning both the men's and women's Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, Alabama earned a trio of yearly SEC awards, the league office announced Tuesday.
Victor Kiprop, the 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year, was voted the 2022 SEC Runner of the Year, while Hilda Olemomoi earned SEC Freshman of the Year accolades. Dan Waters became the first UA coach in program history to be named both the men's and women's SEC Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Victor Kiprop – Men's SEC Runner of the Year
- Kiprop is undefeated this season, including winning the SEC and NCAA South Regional Championships
- He is the second Alabama student-athlete to be named the men's SEC Runner of the Year, following Eliud Kipsang in 2021
- Overall, Alabama has earned men's SEC Runner of the Year accolades nine times, including five of the last eight
Hilda Olemomoi – Women's SEC Freshman of the Year
- Olemomoi finished third or better in every race this season, including taking third at the SEC Championships and the NCAA South Regional Championships
- She earned a trio of SEC Freshman of the Week honors
- The rookie is the third member of the UA women's program to earn SEC Freshman of the Year, following Ashley LaBudde (1998) and Dawn Boggs (1999)
Dan Waters – Men's and Women's SEC Coach of the Year
- Waters led Alabama to its first women's SEC title since 1987 and its first by the men since 2009
- This year's titles also mark the first time that Alabama has won both the men's and women's championships in the same season
- The Crimson Tide is the first program outside of Arkansas to win the men's and women's titles in the same year since 1990
- Alabama also advanced both the men and women to the NCAA Championships in the same season for the third time in program history and the second year in a row
NCAA All-South Region Accolades
- In addition to the SEC honors, Alabama saw eight student-athletes earn NCAA All-South Region honors, including five women and three men
- All five members of Alabama's scoring five on the women's side earned the honor, including Flomena Asekol, Mercy Chelangat, Elka Machan, Olemomoi and Amaris Tyynismaa
- The men's trio includes Hillary Cheruiyot, Jacob Harris and Kiprop
Up Next
- The Crimson Tide women earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after winning their first NCAA South Regional Championship since 1986
- The UA men earned an at-large bid for the 2022 championships
- The NCAA Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 in Stillwater, Okla.
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Players Mentioned
