Lemngole Propels Tide to Women’s Individual, Team Titles at SEC Cross Country Championships

Friday, November 1

College Station, Texas / Watts Cross Country Course

Alabama

SEC Championships

Alabama women's cross country SEC Champs

Lemngole Propels Tide to Women’s Individual, Team Titles at SEC Cross Country Championships

11/1/2024 2:47:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country

Final Results (Web)Final Results (PDF)Photo Gallery

The UA women claimed the program’s fourth SEC title and second in three years, while the UA men finished in second place

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Champions once again, the No. 7 Alabama women's cross country team won the 2024 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships, as standout sophomore Doris Lemngole captured the women's 6k title. Lemngole's 18:20.3 time not only shattered the previous course record, but also helped propel the Crimson Tide women to their fourth SEC team title, and second in the last three years. Before the day was done, the No. 11 Alabama men's cross country team would record a second-place team finish – the program's third consecutive top-two finish at the conference meet.

Spearheaded by Lemngole's first-place finish, teammate Brenda Tuwei (18:48.1 | fourth) helped solidify Alabama as the only school to place two runners in the top five, while Pheline Mining (19:45.8 | 15^th) secured the Tide's spot as one of only two programs to have three runners clock top-15 times of the women's race. On the men's side, Victor Kiprop clocked 22:07.2 to take second as Dismus Lokira (22:17.1 | fourth) and Dennis Kipruto (22:37.9 | sixth) also recorded top-10 times to lead the charge in the 8k race.

Gallery: (11-1-2024) 24-11-01 MWCC SEC Championship

Alabama Women at the SEC Championships

Highlighted by Lemngole's first career SEC cross country title, the Crimson Tide ran away from the field, finishing with 72 points to secure the team victory – 31 points ahead of second-place Tennessee with 103
Following the trio of Lemngole, Tuwei and Mining was Addison Dorenkamp (19:48.5 | 19^th) and Franziska Drexler (20:04.5 | 33^rd) who rounded out UA's scoring five
The victory marks the fourth SEC title in program history, and the second in the last three years
Lemngole was also honored as the SEC Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year following the conclusion of the meet

Alabama Men at the SEC Championships

Featuring a 2-4-6 finish from Kiprop, Lokira and Kipruto, the UA men finished only 15 points shy of the title, tallying 52 points to secure second place – 70 points clear of third-place Ole Miss with 122
Hillary Cheruiyot (23:09.8 | 19^th) and Hudson Hurst (23:14.6 | 21^st) rounded out UA's scoring five
The performance marks the third straight year the Crimson Tide men claimed a top-two team finish at the conference championship meet

Head Coach Dan Waters Said

"I'm super excited for the women; they did an excellent job in executing today's race plan. I couldn't be prouder of Doris, Brenda, Pheline, Addison and Franziska, as well as our senior leadership that was on display today. Overall, to have both our programs finish in the top two for the second time in three years speaks directly to the work and preparation from our entire program. The SEC has set the tone in cross country for the last several years. We're always going toe-to-toe with the best in the nation. Seeing this kind of competition and getting these results should build confidence as we gear up for the Regional meet and beyond.

"Doris is the backbone of our program and we just love her, and her dynamic personality. Not only does she excel in meets, but also in the classroom, winning Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 4.0 (GPA). Her list of accomplishments here at Alabama speaks for itself and I couldn't be prouder of her."