Alabama Cross Country Runner Wins Individual SEC Championship

The Alabama Crimson Tide has a strong showing at the SEC Championship meet.

The No. 22 Alabama Crimson Tide cross-country team went to Columbia, S.C., for the 2023 Southeastern Conference Championship meet and put on a strong performance. 

Head coach Dan Waters's team took second place in the meet, behind Arkansas, but for the second straight year the Tide celebrates the overall winner in junior Victor Kiprop.

Kiprop won the men's 8K meter race with a time of 22:23.4 for his second straight SEC individual cross-country championship. His time was eight-seconds faster than the second place finisher. 

He wasn't the only Alabama runner in the top-five as junior Hillary Cheruiyot finished third with a time of 22:39.4 while senior Eliud Kipsang finished in seventh place, completing the course in 23:11.0.

An 8K course is almost five miles, meaning Kiprop maintained a pace of just under 4:30 per mile to win. 

"First, I want to thank South Carolina for doing a great job hosting this meet; we are very appreciative of all the efforts that were put in throughout the week. I'm super proud of the individual title for Victor. Victor has just proven to be one of the best cross country guys in the country, and for him to run as fast as he did on this measured 8K course, with this kind of heat, is really impressive. I thought Hillary also did a phenomenal job," said Waters in a statement. "The men did a tremendous job finishing second. From one to 10, I'm super proud of the effort by the men's program, and what they were able to accomplish today. Arkansas has a great squad and congrats to them [on winning the men's team title]."

Alabama's women's team had a good show as well as freshman Doris Leongole finished the 6K course in second with a 19:11.2 and sophomore Hilda Olemomoi finished in 19:23.5 for third place.

The No. 13 Alabama women's team finished the competition in fourth place. 

"On the women's side, that was phenomenal runs by both Hilda and Doris – they really put it out there today. I was really happy with Joy – I thought she ran with a lot of courage and heart, and gave it all she had – as did our whole women's program," said Waters in a statement. "The NCAA Regional Championships is going to be vitally important for both teams as we aim to finish as high as we possibly can. We'll get ready for some recovery, some relaxation and then get back after it on Monday. Parker Valby is a great athlete, so congrats to both her and the Florida team [on winning the women's team title]."

Grading Tommy Rees on Football Friday on The Joe Gaither Show