NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore
Joshua Chepkesir captured his first meet title of the season, while also setting a new course record, as the UNC Pembroke men's cross country team finished fifth overall among a field of nationally-prominent teams at the Trevecca D2 Showcase on Saturday morning.
On the women's side,
Erman Jepleting led the way for the Black & Gold with a 10
th place finish to help the women finish third out of 10 teams.
Chepesir's 24:17.2 was good enough for 1
st place finish (110 in men's field) and helped him eclipse the previous course record previously held by teammate
Silus Kipkoech (2017), while also tacking up the fourth-best 8K time in program history. Kipkoech crossed in 4
th place with a time of 25:07.9, while freshman
Tirus Kirwa posted a 39
th-place finish in his collegiate debut with a mark of 27:08.1.
Mat Maier and
Will Stratton finished in 45
th and 46
th place, respectively, in their collegiate debuts as well.
The Black & Gold rounded out their scoring with a 61
st place finish from freshman
Hunter Levy, while
Holden Newman crossed in 64th place.
On the women's side, Jepleting covered the 5K course in 19:05.2, while
Valary Samoei captured a 19
th-place finish with a time of 19:25.4.
Skylar Moreno crossed in 19:28.3 for a 20
th place showing, with
Riley Axe settling into the No. 23 spot with a time of 19:51.5, and
Sam Badami following with a 32
nd place finish (20:57.7). UNCP rounded out its scoring with a 52
nd place.
Corey Pethers (22:00.8; 52
nd) and
Shelby McMurray (57
th; 22:46.4) rounded out the entries for the Black & Gold.
The Braves will take a two-week break from competition before returning to action on October 11 at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte. The Queens-hosted race is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at McAlpine Creek Park.
| TREVECCA D2 SHOWCASE (SEPTEMBER 28) |
| WOMEN'S 5K |
MEN'S 8K |
| Winner: Celine Ritter, Lee (17:37.0) |
Winner: Joshua Chepkesir, UNC Pembroke (24:17.2) |
| 10 |
! Erman Jepleting, 19:05.2 |
1 |
Joshua Chepkesir, 24:17.2 |
| 19 |
! Valary Samoei , 19:25.4 |
4 |
Silus Kipkoech , 25:07.9 |
| 22 |
Skylar Moreno , 19:28.3 |
39 |
! Tirus Kirwa, 27:08.1 |
| 26 |
Riley Axe, 19:51.5 |
45 |
! Mat Maier, 27:23.3 |
| 38 |
Sam Badami, 20:57.7 |
46 |
! Will Stratton, 27:28 |
| 52 |
Corey Pethers, 22:00.8 |
61 |
Hunter Levy, 28:26.9 |
| 57 |
Shelby McMurray, 22:46.4 |
64 |
Holden Newman, 28:36.7 |
| ! = Personal Best |
! = Personal Best |
