Men’s Cross-Country Finishes Second, Elkana Kipruto Wins Individual Title

Friday, November 1

New Orleans, LA

9:30 AM

Stephen F. Austin

Southland Conference Championship

11/1/2024 6:15:00 PM | Men's Cross Country

By: Jackson Pickard, Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Stephen F. Austin men's cross-country team competed today at the Southland Conference Cross-Country Championships finishing in second place overall as a team.

Freshman Elkana Kipruto won the race in dominate fashion finishing 13 seconds faster than second place with a time of 24:28. Elkana's finish also earned him a spot on the first team all-conference team as well as being named athlete of the year and freshman of the year for cross-country.

Head Coach Rob Hansen commented on Elkana's performance saying, "Elly took control from the start and dominated the race. He gave the rest of the field an 8,000-meter tour of New Orleans."

Freshman Ryan Binskin was the second-highest finisher for the Lumberjacks in 10th place with a time of 25:28. Junior Riley Elliott also finished inside the top 15 coming in 13th with a time of 25:40. Both Ryan and Riley's finishes also earned them spots on the all-conference second team.

Sophomore Andrew Mullen finished in 18th place with a time of 26:12. Freshman Pablo Lesarri finished in 21st with a time of 26:21. Junior Zephrin Darhan finished in 25th with a time of 26:26. Sophomore Kevin Curry IV rounded out the field for the Lumberjacks in 28th with a time of 26:36.

"The men's team came in with an extremely high expectation for this championship meet and although we did not reach our ultimate goal, second place as a team in our first SLC championship meet is something to be very proud of", said Head Coach Rob Hansen. "We've competed well as a pack and as a unit all year and today we missed the mark on that just a little bit. I am very proud of Ryan and Riley for securing second-team all-conference and of course, Elkana taking the individual championship was nothing short of amazing."