Sandburg XC Teams Win Region IV Titles, Kibet Repeats as Men’s Champion
RACINE, Wis. — The Carl Sandburg College cross country teams made history Saturday by sweeping the men's and women's team titles at the Region IV Championships on the campus of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Additionally, sophomore men's runner Calton Kibet successfully defended his individual title as he and teammate Emmanuel Kiprop finished 1-2 in the men's race to help the Chargers claim their second straight region championship. Saturday also marked the second women's cross country region title in program history. They previously won in 2019.
Kibet won the 8-kilometer men's race in 26:07.33, and Kiprop came across second in 26:26.11. That helped the Chargers, ranked 19th in the latest USTFCCCA rankings, hold off No. 17 Moraine Valley. Sandburg, which swept the men's and women's team and individual titles at the Arrowhead Conference championships two weeks earlier, finished with 26 points, while the Cyclones totaled 38.
Sandburg also got top-10 times from Kennedy Korir (seventh, 27:45.37) and Nick Janson (28:29.23). Brian Kipchemis was 16th in 30:12.55 for the Chargers' fifth score.
After falling a point shy of winning their first-ever region title last season, the Chargers women's team totaled 25 points to edge Sauk Valley's 31. Babra Viola Jepkirui was third overall in the 5K race at 21:49.89 to pace Sandburg.
Also finishing in the top 15 overall for the Chargers were Faith Kiprop (ninth, 23:53.37), Mercy Jerono (12th, 24:59.69) and Mary Njuguna (15th, 25:44.39).
By winning the region championship, both Sandburg teams earned automatic spots in the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Nov. 12 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla.
NJCAA REGION IV CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN'S RESULTS
NJCAA REGION IV CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN'S RESULTS
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