Cross Country

XC: Postseason Awards Announced

DALLAS – After an impressive season, Middle Tennessee’s Allan Kiplagat, along with Liberty’s Tristian Merchant, Adelyn Fairley, and Isabela Ross have received Conference USA Athlete of the Year honors, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Year – Allan Kiplagat – MTSU – FR – Iten, Kenya
Kiplagat won the 2024 CUSA Championship, as well as Freshman of the Meet, clocking a time of 23:27.9 in the men’s 8K race. After a fifth-place finish at NCAA South Regionals, Kiplagat earned an automatic bid to NCAAs. The freshman Blue Raider placed 19th at NCAAs, earning All-America honors. Kiplagat ran a personal best in the 10K, being the first freshman in the race to cross the finish line. His performance was the best by a Blue Raider at the NCAA National Championship since Kigen Chemadi's 23rd place finish in 2017.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Year – Adelyn Fairley – Liberty – R-SR – Mears, Mich.
Fairley led the Lady Flames to their first CUSA championship win, also earning Outstanding Senior of the Meet. The senior Flame earned second place individually, clocking a time of 20:07.58 in the women’s 6K. Fairley also guided the Liberty women to fifth place at Southeast Regionals and earned eighth place individually. Her stellar performance at Regionals qualified her to NCAAs. 
 
Men’s Newcomer of the Year – Tristian Merchant – Liberty – R-SO – Anchorage, Alaska
Merchant, the transfer from Northern Arizona University, led the Flames to their first CUSA championship win. He finished in third place individually, with a time of 24:00.04 in the men’s 8K. The redshirt sophomore also earned First Team All-Conference. At Southeast Regionals, Merchant ran the men’s 10K in 31:00.1, landing in 35th place out of 235 runners.
 
Women’s Newcomer of the Year – Isabela Ross – Liberty – JR – Oak Creek, Wis.
Ross, the junior transfer from the University of Southern Mississippi, was a key contributor for the Lady Flames, as she competed in every race on their schedule this season. At CUSA Championships, she earned sixth place, as well as First Team All-Conference. The Oak Creek native also received 49th place out of 248 participants at Southeast Regionals.