Kiprotich Punches Ticket to Nationals; SFA Men Fourth, Women Seventh

Friday, November 14

Fayetteville, AR

9:00 A.M.

Stephen F. Austin

NCAA South Central Regional Championship

Paul Kiprotich_National Championship Berth_Ticket Punched

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Kiprotich Punches Ticket to Nationals; SFA Men Fourth, Women Seventh

11/14/2025 1:52:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Final Results

Lumberjacks hold their own amidst tough South Central Region fields

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Paul Kiprotich rolled to an eighth-place, national ticket-punching finish to lead Stephen F. Austin to a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA Division I South Central Regional from Agri Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Valentine Jemutai crossed the tape first for the SFA women and did so in 14^th place to earn all-region honors and help the SFA women to a seventh-place finish as a team. The action concludes the season for both teams, while Kiprotich will compete as an individual in next Saturday's national championship.

Kiprotich finished with a program record 10K time of 29:45.1 for a top ten result and all-region acclaim. Nathan Kapel was twenty seconds back of Kiprotich in 13^th place at 30:05.0 and Riley Elliott moved inside the field's top 25 to record a 23^rd place result in 30:38.9. All three runners were recognized postrace as all-region honorees. Japhet Kimei ensured four 'Jacks would place inside the field's top 35 as he placed 34^th in 31:13.3. Ryan Binskin (31:23.4) and Lathan Lewter (31:35.5) each landed in the top 45, while Sam Golla (31:47.8) placed 51^st.

Valentine Jemutai capped off the campaign the way she started it by leading SFA to the tape in every race this season. Her time was 20:25.4, while two other 'Jacks crossed inside the field's top 30 as Sharon Omwoyo placed 27^th in 21:13.1 with Mercy Kipchumba in 29^th with a time of 21:17.8. Trude Lamb turned in a time of 22:05.9 to place 60^th. Garance Dubray was ten seconds back of Lamb in 67^th at 22:15.1. Lizi McGuire recorded a time of 22:30.5 for an 85^th place finish. Keara Zver crossed in 23:17.5 to place 129^th.

ALL-SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Paul Kiprotich
Nathan Kapel
Riley Elliot
Valentine Jemutai

OF NOTE

Kiprotich was the second highest finisher, behind TCU's Johnson Lagat, among runners not associated with advancing teams
In the men's race, SFA dropped Texas (-6) and was 29 points away from third-place Texas A&M
In the women's race, SFA beat Texas (-12), Rice, TCU and Baylor among others
Kiprotich became the fourth different 'Jack to lead the SFA men across the tape this season
Kiprotich bested Elkana Kipruto's previous program 10K stadard by four seconds
As teams during the 2025 season, SFA combined for six meet wins

UP NEXT
Kiprotich turns his attention to the national stage as one of four individual runners to advance to the NCAA National Championship from the South Central Region. More information on Kiprotich's run will be made available at www.sfajacks.com.

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