Pair of SEC Weekly Honors Awarded to Cross Country Following Crimson Classic
10/22/2024 1:02:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Individual title winner Dennis Kipruto was named the Men’s SEC Freshman of the Week, as Brenda Tuwei earned Women’s Freshman of the Week honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a dominating performance at the Crimson Classic, Alabama cross country accumulated a pair of Southeastern Conference weekly awards, the league office announced Tuesday. Following his first career, individual title-winning performance in the men's 8k race, Dennis Kipruto was named the SEC Men's Freshman of the Week, as second-place finisher Brenda Tuwei secured her second SEC Women's Freshman of the Week honor.
Including Kipruto and Tuwei, four total Crimson Tide runners recorded a top-two finish across both the men's 8k and women's 6k. Kipruto (23:22.1, 8k) and Tuwei (19:04.9, 6k) also clocked one of the top times across the SEC, as well as the second-fastest time by a freshman in their respective races, to further their successful showing in Alabama's regular-season finale.
Tuesday's announcement marks the third time this season Alabama has accumulated at least two conference honors in one week.
Dennis Kipruto – Men's Freshman of the Week
- Captured the first individual title of his career to propel the UA men to a 59-point performance to secure the team title
- Clocking the conference's second-fastest 8k time by a freshman (23:22.1), he led the Tide as UA claimed its third team title of the season
- Paced Alabama to a 1-2 finish in the men's 8k race alongside teammate Victor Kiprop, who crossed the line only two-tenths of a second behind Kipruto
- Now has two SEC Men's Freshman of the Week honors for his UA career
- Sept. 17, 2024 | Oct. 22, 2024
Brenda Tuwei – Women's Freshman of the Week
- Competing in only her second collegiate cross country race, Tuwei secured a second-place finish – only one-tenth of a second behind teammate Doris Lemngole – to help guide the UA women to a dominating, 28-point performance to secure the team title and program sweep
- Clocking the SEC's second-fastest 6k time by a freshman (19:04.9), she aided the Tide as Alabama steamrolled to its third team title of the season, and second in as many meets
- Was one of four UA runners to finish in the top seven of the women's 6k race alongside teammates Lemngole (first), Franziska Drexler (sixth) and Addison Dorenkamp (seventh)
- Now has two SEC Women's Freshman of the Week honors for her Crimson Tide career
- Oct. 8, 2024 | Oct. 22, 2024
Players Mentioned
