Bethune-Cookman University Athletics cross country collected three Southwestern Athletic Conference weekly honors following the 19th Annual Sand Shark Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. Junior Andrew Kiplagat earned SWAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week honors, while sophomore Jayden Santos-Gonzales was named SWAC Men’s Newcomer of the Week. Junior Lisel Ndlovu received the SWAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week award.
The honors followed Bethune-Cookman’s performance at the Oct. 10 invitational. Kiplagat led the men’s team to a first-place finish and won the individual race in 25:16.5. The victory marked his first top finish of the season.
Kiplagat leads men’s results
Kiplagat’s individual victory produced the top men’s result for Bethune-Cookman at the Sand Shark Invitational. His 25:16.5 finish also helped secure the program’s first-place result in the men’s team standings. The performance earned him the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s men’s runner award for the week.
Santos-Gonzales added a third-place finish in the men’s race. The sophomore crossed the line in 26:18.1 and received the conference’s men’s newcomer honor. His result gave Bethune-Cookman two individual finishes among the top three in the men’s competition.
Ndlovu earns women’s recognition
Ndlovu paced Bethune-Cookman’s women’s team to a third-place finish in the team standings. She also placed third individually with a time of 19:38.2. That performance earned her SWAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week honors.
The three awards raised Bethune-Cookman cross country’s total to five Southwestern Athletic Conference weekly honors this season. The recognition included athletes from both the men’s and women’s programs. Bethune-Cookman competed at the 19th Annual Sand Shark Invitational on Oct. 10.
What comes next for Bethune-Cookman
Bethune-Cookman cross country will race Friday in Lakeland at the Ed Holloway Classic. The program is also scheduled to compete at the SWAC Cross Country Championship. Its listed schedule includes the NCAA DI Cross Country South Regional as well.
FSB Take
Bethune-Cookman University Athletics produced three conference award winners from one invitational. Kiplagat’s individual victory and the men’s first-place team finish led the results, while Santos-Gonzales and Ndlovu added third-place individual finishes. The program now has five SWAC weekly honors this season as it moves toward the Ed Holloway Classic.
Source: Original report