Kemboi Shatters ECU Record as Women’s Cross Country Places Fifth at Chile Pepper Festival
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The East Central University women's cross country team delivered a dominant performance Saturday morning at the annual Chile Pepper Festival, hosted by the University of Arkansas, placing fifth among 28 teams in a highly competitive field featuring programs from all divisions. The Tigers also finished as the top Division II team in the field.
ECU finished with 187 points, trailing only Arkansas (69), Mississippi State (83), Tulsa (89) and UT Arlington (178) while finishing ahead of all other Division II programs. The Tigers' fifth-place showing was especially notable with No. 22 Dallas Baptist University, the next-highest Division II finisher, coming in behind ECU.
Joyce Kemboi led the way for the Tigers with a record-breaking performance, placing fifth overall with a time of 16:09.7. Kemboi shattered her own ECU 5K record, which she set just one month ago at the Tigers' season-opening meet at Cameron, continuing an already historic start to her season.
Sharon Jemeli was next across the line for ECU, finishing 25th overall in 17:06.7, while
Winnie Kipsang placed 28th with a time of 17:15.9.
Emily Barbosa finished 108th in 18:26.9, followed by
Victaline Mutal in 141st at 18:47.0 and
Stephanie Ojo in 167th with a time of 19:07.6.
Lindsey Mauppin placed 216th in 20:18.7, while
Gracee Henderson finished 235th at 21:40.0.
Lily Hudman rounded out the ECU lineup in 247th with a time of 25:47.1.
The Tigers will return to action Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Old Glory Gallop hosted by Dallas Baptist University.
