GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Freshman
Joshua Chepkesir covered the 10K course in just more than 31 minutes and crossed the finish line just 0.27 seconds ahead of the rest of the 142-man field to capture the NCAA Southeast Region championship on Saturday morning at the UNG Cross Country Course in Gainesville, Ga.
Chepkesir's time of 31:09 is the third-fastest mark in the history of the men's cross country program at UNCP, and the best time since former all-American and Rio Olympian Pardon Ndhlovu registered a time of 30:55 at the 2011 NCAA Southeast Region Championships in Charlotte. Chepkesir is the second freshman in as many years to win the region title, joining teammate
Silus Kipkoech who raked in the title last season.
With the finish, Chepkesir qualifies for the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships on December 1 at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kipkoech finished sixth on Saturday morning with a time of 31:57.3, while senior
Logan Ward crossed in 17
th place with a time of 32:43.8.
Matthew Martin (33:48.3) came away with a 35
th place showing, while
Ean Ormsby (34:03.3) and
Jonathan Martin (34:08.01) were within five seconds of each other in the Nos. 48 and 50 positions. Freshman
Jarett Arabie was 82
nd with a personal-best time of 35:28.8.
On the women's side, freshman
Skylar Moreno registered a personal-best time of 23:42.5 on the 6K course and led the Braves to a 16
th place finish in the team standings.
Molly McCann was 75
th with a time of 25:40.9,
Riley Axe (25:40.9) placed 85
th and
Corey Pethers crossed in 101
st place with a mark of 26:13.1. Sophomores
Sam Badami (26:48.17) and
Shelby McMurray (27:17.45) finished 121
st and 128
th, respectively.
| NCAA SOUTHEAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS (NOVEMBER 17, 2018) |
| WOMEN'S 6K |
MEN'S 10K |
| Winner: Leah Hanle, Mount Olive (21:39.3) |
Winner: Joshua Chepkesir, UNC Pembroke (31:09.9) |
| 25 |
! Skylar Moreno, 23:42.5 |
1 |
! Joshua Chepkesir, 31:09.9 |
| 75 |
Molly McCann, 25:16.2 |
6 |
Silus Kipkoech, 31:57.3 |
| 85 |
Riley Axe, 25:40.9 |
17 |
Logan Ward, 32:43.8 |
| 101 |
Corey Pethers, 26:13.1 |
35 |
Matthew Martin, 33:48.3 |
| 121 |
Sam Badami, 26:48.1 |
48 |
! Ean Ormsby, 34:03.3 |
| 128 |
Shelby McMurray, 27:17.4 |
50 |
Jonathan Martin, 34:08.0 |
|
82 |
! Jarett Arabie, 35:28.8 |
| ! = Personal Best |
! = Personal Best |
