Doris Lemngole Defeats Former Teammate Hilda Olemomoi For SEC Title And Leads Crimson Tide To Win; Patrick Kiprop Leads Arkansas Men

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

University of Alabama photo

Alabama’s Doris Lemngole continued her impressive season with a win at the SEC Cross Country Championships, posting 18:20.3 to edge out Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi (18:25.0) and Arkansas’ Paityn Noe (18:37.6) on the Watts Cross Country Course in College Station, Texas on Friday.

At the 2-kilometer mark it was that trio, followed closely by Lemngole's Crimson Tide teammate and fellow sophomore Brenda Tuwei as well as Auburn freshman Brenda Jepchirchir in the lead pack. Lemngole held onto the lead and pulled away from the group to win her first SEC Championship after finishing as the runner-up behind Parker Valby in 2023 at both SEC's and NCAA's as a freshman.

Olemomi also improved by one spot with her runner-up showing and Arkansas' Noe moved up two spots after placing fifth in 2023.

The Crimson Tide, currently ranked seventh nationally, and first in the South Region in the latest 2024 NCAA DI Women’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, won the SEC team championship with a score of 72 points.

The squad led by Lemingole and Tuwei placed all seven runners in the top 50 and clocked a team average of 19:21.44 for the 6k course. Tennessee finished in second with top scorers Ashley Jones (seventh) and Jillian Candelino (18th), while defending champion Florida was third with 122 points.

In the Men's 8k, it was a rematch of last year's individual battle between senior Patrick Kiprop of Arkansas and senior Victor Kiprop of Alabama.

Patrick led the race from the gun with Victor on his heels until around the 6k mark. The Razorback senior who finished runner-up behind Victor in 2023 struck revenge and the individual title with a time of 21:57 and 10 seconds ahead of his rival who posted a time of 22:07.2.

The next four runners to cross the line were their respective teammates. Kirami Yego of Arkansas was third in 22:15.9, followed by Alabama freshman Dismus Lokira (22:17.1), Arkansas senior Yaseen Abdalla (22.20.2), and Alabama freshman Dennis Kipruto (22.37.9). 

It's no surprise then that the team standings came down to Arkansas and Alabama much like it did one year ago.

The Razorbacks posted an identical score from 2023 of 38 team points, placing all seven runners in the top 20, and dropping an impressive team average of 22:31.90.

The Crimson Tide were second with 52 points, while Texas rounded out the top three.

Arkansas is currently ranked third nationally, and first in the South Central Region in the latest 2024 NCAA DI Men’s Cross Country National Coaches’ Poll, while Alabama is No. 1 in the South Region and will look to crack the top 10 when the next national rankings come out.