Kiptui Retains SWAC Cross Country Individual Title

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Stellah Kiptui and Runelda Jackson finished first and second, respectfully, as Alcorn Women's Cross Country took second place at the 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Cross Country Championships on Monday at Apalachee Regional Park. On the men's side, Alcorn turned in an eighth-place finish in the race.
 
Stellah Kiptui, the reigning SWAC Cross Country Performer of the Year, turned in a repeat performance as the SWAC individual champion in the women's event, as the Kabarnet, Kenya native crossed in a time of 18:03.4 on the day. For this, she was once again named SWAC Performer of the Year.
 
The women's event was run as a 5K, as the Braves women's squad finished second overall with a score of 108.
 
Bethune-Cookman took the team title with a score of 90.
 
Immediately following Kiptui across the line was sophomore Runelda Jackson, as she made her way onto the All-SWAC Team with a second-place time of 19:04.1 in the event. The Belle Glade, Florida native was more than 35 seconds faster than third place competitor Aneisha Ingram of Alabama A&M (19:43.5).
 
"We came out and competed," commented Jimmy Joseph, Alcorn Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "The outcome wasn't what we wanted, but Coach [Donald] Bond did a great job preparing our student-athletes for the competition."
 
Another sophomore for the Braves, Samouya Nevers (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) finished 22nd in the field of 72 women's runners. She was followed in scoring for the Purple and Gold by classmate Akili Pleas-Carnie (Milwaukee, Wis.) with a time of 22:58.5.
 
Junior transfer Ann Dangha (Little Rock, Ark.) was the final scorer for the Braves with a finishing time of 24:51.2.
 
"My hat goes off to the champions, and we look forward to greater things to come this upcoming indoor and outdoor track & field season," said Joseph.
 
Grambling State (108), Alabama State (137) and Jackson State (147) rounded out the top five teams in this year's women's competition.
 
On the men's side, it was Jackson State (43) claiming the team title, as the event was run as an 8K.
 
Alcorn sophomore transfer Bethwel Limo of Eldoret, Kenya was the low scorer for the Braves, as he crossed 25th in the field of 63 with a time of 28:19.8 on the day. He was followed by sophomore Jeremiah Wingate (Las Vegas, Nev.) with a time of 28:22.1.
 
Fellow sophomore Marciano Taylor (Memphis, Tenn.) was 38th in the field with a time of 29:21.7 overall.
 
The final two scorers for the Braves were Elijah Anderson (Tacoma, Wash.) with a time of 32:39.4, and Chemar McGhee (Jonesboro, Ga.) with a time of 33:59.5.
 
As a team, the Alcorn men placed eighth with a score of 190.
 
Texas Southern (56), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (81), Bethune-Cookman (121) and Southern (144) rounded out the top five participating teams in the men's field.
 
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