Men’s Cross Country Concludes Outstanding Season with 3rd Place Podium Spot at NCAA Championships
JOPLIN, MO. – The No. 5 East Central University men's cross country team made history at the 2023 NCAA Division II Championships, securing an impressive third place at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course Saturday morning.
It was a monumental achievement for the program, marking their first podium place finish in their fourth appearance at Nationals. This groundbreaking finish shattered their previous best of 11th place, achieved in 2005, 2011, and 16th in 2015.
The Tigers became the first men's cross country team from the Great American Conference to earn a podium finish at the NCAA Championships as they finished with 108 points. Wingate won the national title followed by Colorado School of Mines.
"THEY believed they could win," Head Coach
Steve Sawyer said. "In my opinion, a coach's hardest job is getting their team to believe in their potential. If they do not believe, it is an uphill battle to get them to. But this team told me 'we think we can win the national title coach.' THEY BELIEVED! I did not have to tell them. THEY told me! We went out there to win a national title and we BELIEVED we could do it. We almost made it happen."
A total of 34 teams took the course on a beautiful day in Joplin, Missouri. From the get-go, it was a battle for the coveted title.
Aspel Kiprob became the program's latest All-American as he led the Tigers across the finish line, placing sixth individually with a spectacular time of 29:20.7. He became the first men's GAC runner to register a top-10 finish, and his performance marked the fourth race this season where Kiprob was ECU's top finisher. Just two weeks ago Kiprob took 12
th at the Central Region meet with a time of 30:52.1 but came back strong this weekend shaving more than 90 seconds off his time for a record-breaking finish for ECU.
Amos Pkiach flew in next, landing in 21
st place to earn All-American status with a time of 29:57.1. This marks the first season that the Tigers have captured more than one All-American accolade, as it is given to individuals who place in the top 30.
Oliver Kiptoo and
Peter Kipkemboi were just short of cracking into the top-30, with Kiptoo crossing the finish line in 33
rd in a time of 30:11.8 while Kipkemboi came from behind to place 35
th overall in 30:16.6.
Paul Korir rounded out ECU's top five, finishing 43
rd at 30:26.8.
Melvin Kipkemboi and
Michael Iyali were the final Tigers to finish with Kipkemboi posting a time of 31:17.3 and Iyali recording a time of 31:56.5 to place 110
th and 172
nd, respectively.
With no seniors graduating, ECU anticipates continuing its impressive performance next season. In the meantime, the Tigers will now turn their attention towards the indoor track & field season.
