UTEP Miners

UTEP XC’s Gurrola Earns All-Conference Honors at the CUSA Championships Saturday Morning

11/1/2025 12:20:00 PM

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – UTEP Cross Country's Andres Gurrola was named All-Conference USA second team as the Miners wrapped up competition at the 2025 Conference USA Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park on Saturday morning.

Vallary Kiplagat was the top Miner on the women's side, posting a season-best time of 21:44.51. Kiplagat was 41^st overall of 105 competitors. Salma Licon clocked in a personal-best time of 22:10.33, while Isabella Campa, Praise Djoma, Brenda Jerop and Peace Ewa rounded out the order of finish for UTEP.

Gurrola was the top finisher on the UTEP men's side, clocking in at 24:12.49 and placing 12^th overall of 82 competitors. Gurrola earned All-CUSA second team honors with his finish. Paul Rotich, Juan Leal, Israel Quintana, Carmelo Corral, Matthew Guerra, Aron Tanui and Nethaneel Taylor rounded out the order of finish for the Miners.

The UTEP men's team placed sixth (158 points), and the women's squad was 11^th (324).

"On the women's side, we had really strong runs turned in from Vallary and Salma! It was a season-best performance for Vallary and a huge PR for Salma, lowering her best from 22:35 to 22:10," UTEP distance coach Justin Herbert said. "On the men's side, we were led by senior Andres Gurrola, who finished in 12th place and earned second team All-Conference recognition. We were down a couple of men today, but it was a strong performance despite being shorthanded."

The Liberty women literally ran away with the team championship, scoring 40 points. The Lady Flames' Allie Zealand took the individual crown with a dominating performance, clocking in a time of 19:53.0. Delaware's Marie-Theres Gruber was second with a time of 20:21.6, and Middle Tennessee's Faith Nyathi was third (20:25.4). Liberty had three of the top six finishers. Rounding out the top three teams were NM State (104 points) in second and Missouri State (117), finishing third in its first year in CUSA.

Middle Tennessee took the men's title with 37 points, while Liberty finished second (55 points), and Jax State (92) was third. MTSU's Allan Kiplagat captured the men's individual championship with a time of 23:34.82. Kennesaw State's Collins KipKemboi (23:40.81) and Brian Limo (23:49.58) rounded out the top three overall finishers.

Final Results: https://live.deltatiming.com/meets/57715

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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