Braves Conclude Crimson Classic

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alcorn's Stellah Kiptui registered a seventh-place finish Friday morning, helping Alcorn Women's Cross Country as part of the Crimson Classic taking place at the Harry Pritchett Running Course on the campus of the University of Alabama. As a team, the women finished 15th in the field, while the men turned in a 14th place showing.
 
Kiptui, a 5-foot-2 sophomore from Kabarnet, Kenya, garnered a seventh-place finish for the event, crossing the finish line in a time of 20:29.90. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Runelda Jackson, a 5-foot-7 native of Belle Glade, Florida, crossed in a time of 22:05.60, allowing her to place 66th overall in the field.
 
In all for the women's 5,850-meter run, more than 200 student-athletes took part in what was the first cross country event back on the Alabama campus since 2017.
 
"Stellah [Kiptui] and Runelda [Jackson] have just been awesome," commented Jimmy Joseph, Alcorn Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "They are two individuals that push each other to be better every day, and it's just a joy to watch these two young ladies run. They are only going to get better as the time goes on with the help of Coach [Donald] Bond."
 
Also running well for the Braves on Friday was sophomore Samouya Nevers (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), crossing in a time of 24:46.70, followed closely by teammate Akili Pleas-Carne (Milwaukee, Wis.) ending with a time of 25:47.20 on the day.
 
Junior Ann Dangha (Little Rock, Ark.) posted a finishing time of 29:25.90 for the Purple and Gold, as the team was 15th in the field of 19 – finishing ahead of fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams Jackson State (18th) and Southern (19th), respectfully.
 
In the men's competition, ran as an 8,075-meter event, there featured more than 150 student-athletes from 16 different schools.
 
Alcorn was paced by sophomore Bethwel Limo of Eldoret, Kenya, as the Grambling State transfer registered a time of 28:01.70.
 
Marciano Taylor (Memphis, Tenn.) and Jeremiah Wingate (Las Vegas, Nev.) were right behind each other in the scoring for the Braves, as Taylor finished in 29:09.20, followed directly by Wingate's time of 29:11.60.
 
Elijah Anderson (Tacoma, Wash.) was another scorer for the Braves, as he crossed the finish line at 30:55.70, while freshman Chemar McGhee (Jonesboro, Ga.) had a time of 31:52.10.
 
"Overall, the men's team has been doing well, considering the injuries and shortcomings they've had to deal with this season," continued Joseph. "It's a different environment for them this season, but they've dropped their times tremendously, and they're continuing to prepare for the conference championships."
 
The men's team finished 14th overall in the field with 437 points.
 
"We've been preparing for the SWAC Championships, and hopefully things will pay off for all of the hard work these young ladies and young men have been putting in every day," said Joseph.
 
The SWAC Championships are where the Braves will next compete on both the Women's and Men's side, with the race taking place at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida on Monday, Oct. 24.
 
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