HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Middle Tennessee claimed both, the men’s and women’s championship titles at the Conference USA Cross Country Championship Saturday morning at the John Hunt Park Cross Country Course in Huntsville, Ala.
For the fourth time since joining the league, Middle Tennessee swept the team leaderboards under the direction of head coach Keith Vroman. The Blue Raiders last accomplished this feat in the 2023 season.
The women’s squad finished with 25 points, holding a 40-point margin of victory over last year’s champion, Liberty. Sophomore Blue Raider Evalyne Wambui led the pack, winning the women’s race with a conference-record time of 19:25.2. That finish beat the previous record that was set by TCU’s Gladys Keitany in the 2001 season by nearly 20 seconds. Rounding out the top three were Jax State’s Freshman of the Meet Mercy Sergon and Liberty’s Allie Zealand.
On the men’s side, the Blue Raiders finished with a victorious score of 31, holding off runner up Jax State who finished with 56. Crossing first was Gamecock freshman Shadrack Kipkurgat who finished with a time of 23:21.6. Along with earning the men’s individual title, he was also named the Men’s Freshman of the Meet.
New Mexico State’s Thomas Croshaw was the men’s runner up, followed by third place finisher, Kelvin Tanui from MTSU.
Teams will now shift their focus to the regional championships which are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13 at each team’s respective regional site. The top two finishing teams from each regional will automatically qualify for the championship meet, along with 14 additional teams who will be selected at-large during the selection show on Saturday, Nov. 14 . The 2026 NCAA Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday, Nov. 21 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., and will be streamed live on ESPNU.
WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS
1. MTSU 25
2. Liberty 65
3. KSU 105
4. Delaware 119
4. NM State 119
6. Jax State 123
7. Missouri State 128
8. WKU 253
9. FIU 265
10. Sam Houston 298
WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Individual Champions: Evalyne Wambui, MTSU
Freshman of the Meet: Mercy Sergon, Jax State
WOMEN’S ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES
First Team
1. Evalyne Wambui, MTSU
2. Mercy Sergon, Jax State
3. Allie Zealand, Liberty
4. Elizabeth Magoma, MTSU
5. Odilia Jepchumba, MTSU
6. Nia Allison, NM State
7. Gladys Muriithi, MTSU
Second Team
8. Privillege Chikara, MTSU
9. Rachel Hill, Liberty
10. Viola Jepleting, Jax State
11. Madison Seiler, KSU
12. Riley Bryan, Missouri State
13. Juila Flanagan, Delaware
14. Ryann Aycock, Liberty
Third Team
15. Eleanor Towe, MTSU
16. Ella Cronhardt, Missouri State
17. Samantha McGarity, KSU
18. Leah Clear, Delaware
19. Ava Gordon, Liberty
20. Eden Alexander, Liberty
21. Mayson Humpert, KSU
MEN’S TEAM RESULTS
1. MTSU 31
2. Jax State 56
3. Liberty 70
4. NM State 100
5. WKU 107
6. Sam Houston 192
7. KSU 206
8. FIU 226
MEN’S INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Individual Champion: Shadrack Kipkurgat, Jax State
Freshman of the Meet: Shadrack Kipkurgat, Jax State
MEN’S ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES
First Team
1. Shadrack Kipkurgat, Jax State
2. Thomas Croshaw, NM State
3. Kelvin Tanui, MTSU
4. Edger Ngibe, MTSU
5. Solomon Sayo, MTSU
6. Andrew Schultz, Liberty
7. Linus Chepkochei, Jax State
Second Team
8. Mark Roper, Jax State
9. Allan Kiplagat, MTSU
10. Moses Lekokei, MTSU
11. Gabe Allen, MTSU
12. Tristian Merchant, Liberty
13. Orion Chavez, NM State
14. Justin Doran, WKU
Third Team
15. Michael Carnell, WKU
16. Ethan Pedersen, Liberty
17. Malachi Burnett, Liberty
18. Miguel Angel Del Rosario, Jax State
19. Edwin Kiprop, Liberty
20. Eric Duncan, Liberty
21. Grattan O’Neill, Liberty