Miners to Compete at CUSA XC Championships Saturday Morning

10/27/2023 8:54:00 AM

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP cross country men's and women's squads will take the course at the 2023 Conference USA Cross Country Championships in Bowling Green, Ky., at the Riverview Golf Course at Hobson Grove Park hosted by WKU on Saturday morning.

The gun goes off at 8 a.m. MT/9 CT for the men's 8k race, followed by the women running the 6k course at 9 a.m. MT/10 CT.

Championship Central | Live Results
Men's 8k: 8 a.m. MT/9 a.m. CT | Men's TFRRS
Women's 6k: 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT | Women's TFRRS

UTEP will compete against host WKU, FIU, Jax State, Liberty, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, NM State and Sam Houston.

Defending CUSA Champion Ruth Jerubet will look to defend her title. The junior won the 2022 championship in Denton with a 20:42.9, earning All-CUSA first team honors. Jerubet is looking to be the first Miner to repeat as champion since Joan Kimaiyo (2009 & 2010).

Also competing for the women are Brenda Jerop, Joan Kimaiyo, Vallary Kiplagat, Salma Licon, Victoria Ovalles, Alexa Rangel, and Elise Wilcher.

Victor Kibiego is coming off a productive regular season where the sophomore sensation turned in two victories and a pair of second-place showings in four meets. Kibiego was named CUSA Male Athlete of the Week on Oct. 17 following his dominant performance at the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Friday the 13^th. Kibiego finished first, clocking in a personal-best and course-best 22.54.8 out of 365 competitors.

At last season's championships, Kibiego placed second with a 24:15.4. The men's team finished second overall in 2022 with 62 points behind champion Charlotte (31 points).

Competing alongside Kibiego on the men's team are Titus Cheruiyot, Maxwell Kipkosgei, Juan Olmos, Kenneth Talavera, Aron Tanui, Alejandro Tarin, and Angel Torres.

THE LAST TIME…
The UTEP men's team last won the CUSA championship was in 2016 in Charlotte, while Anthony Rotich was the last Miner on the men's side to win it (2015 – 24:44.1 in Bowling Green). Rotich was a four-time champion (2012-2015). The women's last conference championship came during the 2018 campaign in Boca Raton, Fla. Risper Kimaiyo was the last Miner to repeat as champion (2009, 2010) on the women's side.

LAST YEAR'S RESULTS
Charlotte swept the men's and women's titles. The 49ers' Nickolas Scudder won the individual men's championship with a 23:58.5.

UPCOMING
The NCAA Mountain Regionals on Nov. 10 in Lubbock, Texas, while NCAA Championships are Nov. 18 in Charlottesville, Va.

For complete coverage of UTEP Track & Field/Cross Country, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPTrack (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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