Braves Have Strong Performances at UNA Showcase

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – All participating Alcorn State Women's Cross Country runners posted new personal-best times on Friday, while the men's squad once again had solid individual showings, as the Braves took part in the North Alabama Showcase at John Hunt Park. The event was hosted by North Alabama in conjunction with the Huntsville Sports Commission.
 
Alcorn sophomore Stellah Kiptui headlined the women's runners for Director of Track & Field Jimmy Joseph's squad, with the Kabarnet, Kenya native turning in a new personal-best time of 17:18.62 in the 5K event. That time allowed her to lead all Braves performers and finish 22nd overall in the field of more than 380 female runners.
 
When asked about the overall performance of his teams on Friday, Jimmy Joseph responded with positive comments about his two sides.
 
"I'm pleased with the overall performance of both sides," said Joseph, the 2021 Women's Cross Country Most Outstanding Coach. "Training has been going well under the guidance of Coach Bond. We look forward to working hard next week and being healthy for the remainder of the season."
 
Also collecting a top-100 time on the women's side was sophomore Runelda Jackson (Belle Glade, Fla.). The Palm Beach Central High alum turned in a time of 18:11.99, allowing her to finish 70th in the field and post a new personal-best mark in the process. Fellow Florida native and sophomore Samouya Nevers (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) was one of five Braves to post a personal-best mark, as she crossed the finish line in a time of 20:52.07.
 
Akili Pleas-Carnie (Milwaukee, Wis.) had a personal-best race of 21:47.22, while freshman Neshae Sanders (Port Gibson, Miss.) crossed in a personal-best time of 30:43.70, competing in just her second-ever collegiate event.
 
As a team, the Alcorn women finished 27th in the field of 39 participating squads.
 
In the men's event, being ran as an 8K, it was sophomore newcomer Bethwell Limo crossing the line first for the Braves in a time of 28:43.92. Competing in just his second event for the Braves, the Grambling State transfer has now led the team in both events for the 2022 campaign.
 
In all, more than 350 men's runners were competing in this year's field, with 37 teams taking part in what is traditionally one of the largest collegiate events in the southeast every year.
 
With Joseph's men's and women's teams flooded with sophomore talent, another second-year runner for the men's side – Jeremiah Wingate (Las Vegas, Nev.), finished second on the Braves squad with a time of 29:55.26. Following him was classmate Marciano Taylor (Memphis, Tenn.), crossing the line with a time of 31:13.18 on the day.
 
Jackson, Mississippi native and sophomore David Smith turned in a mark of 32:12.10 for the Braves, allowing him to finish as the third scorer for his side, while the only freshman on this year's men's team – Chemar McGhee (Jonesboro, Ga.), crossed the finish line in a time of 32:20.20.
 
The final participating runner for the Braves was Elijah Anderson (Tacoma, Wash.), registering a finishing time of 34:14.13 in the event.
 
The Braves Men's and Women's teams get back on the cross country course next weekend, as Alcorn travels south into Louisiana, where they'll compete in the LSU Invitational hosted by the Tigers at the University Club in Baton Rouge.
 
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