Kiprop wins Southern Stampede in first collegiate race

Freshman Vincent Kiprop striding ahead at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on Sept. 19, 2105. Kiprop won the race, which was his first ever collegiate race. He won in a time of 24:15.96. The men’s team finished in 14th place. The women’s team placed in fifth place. Emily Harris led the way for the Lions with a seventh place finish.

Freshman Vincent Kiprop striding ahead at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on Sept. 19, 2105. Kiprop won the race, which was his first ever collegiate race. He won in a time of 24:15.96. The men’s team finished in 14th place. The women’s team placed in fifth place. Emily Harris led the way for the Lions with a seventh place finish.

The Missouri Southern men’s and women’s cross country teams hosted the Southern Stampede last weekend at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course. This is the second competition for both teams this season. Both teams finished in the top three in the Southwest Baptist Invite on Sept. 5.

Women’s Team

The Lions finished fifth in the Southern Stampede last weekend. The Lions were led by junior Emily Harris, who finished seventh as she traversed the 5k course in a time of 17:34.80. Harris has finished in the top five in both races this season. Cynthia Torres rounded out the top 25 while finishing 25th with a time of 18:26.35. Sarah Usher was 33rd in a time of 18:36.81. Kindra Emberton raced to a time of 18:45.96, finishing 41st, while Sierra Gray was 55th in a time of 18:58.94. Redshirt freshman Shelby Werner was 85th (19:25.38), while Amber White (19:38.82), Sara Lin (19:47.25) and Alessandra Moss (19:50.18) finished 102nd, 109th, and 113th, respectively. Cora Butcher Spellman finished 182nd in a time of 21:10.20.

“It was a great event. It always is,” head coach Patty Vavra said about the Southern Stampede. “Seeing all those athletes on the starting line stampeding up that starting hill and even hearing that is just really neat to see. It’s great to be able to host something like that. The support we have from this university for this sport is really phenominal.”

UC-San Diego won the team title. Conference rival Southwest Baptist was second, Dallas Baptist third, and Oklahoma Baptist took the fourth spot.

Men’s Team

Freshman Vincent Kiprop won the Southern Stampede in his first-ever collegiate race. Kiprop ran the 8k course in a time of 24:15.96 and is the second straight MSSU runner to take home the individual title. Eric Schott did it last season.

Nathan Henry placed 42nd with a time of 25:39.22. Jared Haltom was 95th in a time of 26:22.17, while Jacob Coffman placed 151st in a time of 27:16.03, Luke Johnson was 194th in a time of 27:56.71, and Ryan Drendel finished 208th in a time of 28:12.48.

The Lions finished 14th as a team, earning 392 team points. East Central University took claim to first place with 121 points. Conference opponents Nebraska-Kearney and Pittsburg State finished second and third respectively. Harding finished fourth and UC-San Diego rounded out the top five.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will compete again on Oct. 3 when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to compete in the Chili Pepper Invite at the University of Arkansas.