13 Miners to Compete at NCAA XC Mountain Regionals Friday Morning

11/9/2023 10:59:00 AM

EL PASO, Texas – Thirteen UTEP cross country student-athletes will compete at the 2023 NCAA Mountain Regionals hosted by Texas Tech at Chaparral Ridge Cross Country Course in Lubbock on Nov. 10.

The gun goes off at 9 a.m. MT/10 CT for the women's 6k race, followed by the men running the 10k course at 10 a.m. MT/11 CT.

MEET INFO | LIVE RESULTS
Women's 6k: 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT | Women's TFRRS
Men's 10k: 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT | Men's TFRRS

The starting box for the women's race is host Texas Tech, New Mexico, Colorado State, Utah State, Idaho State, Air Force, BYU, Colorado, Northern Colorado, NM State, Weber State, Montana, Nevada, UTEP, Wyoming, Utah, Southern Utah, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Utah Valley.

Northern Arizona women's squad is ranked no. 1 in the Mountain Region. No. 2 BYU, no. 3 Colorado, no. 4 Utah and no. 5 Utah Valley round out the top five programs in the region.

The starting box on the men's side are Idaho State, Colorado State, Utah Valley, BYU, UTEP, Air Force, Montana State, Nevada, NM State, Utah State, Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Weber State, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado, Northern Colorado, Wyoming and host Texas Tech.

The Northern Arizona men's team is ranked no. 1 in the Mountain Region, followed by no. 2 BYU. No. 3 New Mexico, no. 4 Colorado and no. 5 Air Force round out the top five.

Competing for the women are Angie Calderon, Ruth Jerubet, Brenda Jerop, Vallary Kiplagat, Salma Licon, Alexa Rangel and Elise Wilcher.

Jerubet finished as the top Miner and fourth overall at the Conference USA Championships on Oct. 28 in Bowling Green. Jerubet was named All-CUSA first team, clocking in a 21:51.8 in the 6k event. A pair of UTEP freshmen were named All-CUSA third team as Kiplagat was 16^th (22:30.6) and Jerop finished 21^st (22:47.4).

Victor Kibiego is coming off a CUSA Championship a few weeks ago. The sophomore sensation clocked in a personal-best 22:28.3 in the 8k event, earning All-CUSA first team honors for a second consecutive season.

Titus Cheruiyot was right behind Kibiego at the championships. The senior was impressive on the course with a second-place showing, clocking in a personal-best 22:42.3 and earning first team honors. Cheruiyot was also honored as the CUSA Outstanding Senior Award.

Running alongside Kibiego and Cheruiyot on the men's team are Juan Olmos, Aron Tanui, Alejandro Tarin and Angel Torres.

Tanui finished 19^th with a personal-best 24:15.9, while Olmos placed 21^st with a career-best 24:28.8 in Bowling Green. Tanui and Olmos were named All-CUSA third team following their performances.

The men's finished third overall (64 points), while the women placed fifth (110) at the conference championships.

AT LAST YEAR'S REGIONALS
Then-freshman Victor Kibiego finished in 20^th place with a 28:21.2 in the men's 10k at the 2022 XC Mountain Regionals in Albuquerque, N.M. Kibiego punched his ticket to Stillwater, Okla., where he competed at the 2022 NCAA National Championships on Nov. 19. Kibiego had a solid showing, placing 102^nd out of 255 competitors in the 10k (30:12.7) on Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course.

Northern Arizona won the men's race with 43 points, while New Mexico took the women's title with 56.

UPCOMING
The 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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