Walters State makes strong showing in NJCAA Cross Country Championships

Albuquerque, N.M. — Aaliyah Mattison finished 124th out of a field of 290 women runners in the NJCAA Championship Saturday at the University of New Mexico Golf Course.

Mattison (Morristown, Tenn.), a freshman, finished with a time of 21:24.51.

Faith Chepengat, from Iowa Western Community College, took the victory in the 5K with a time of 16: 48.41. Everlyn Kemboi from El Paso Community College was second with a time of 17:01.83. Gladys Jemaiyo from South Plains was third at 17:14.57, Winrose Chesang from Iowa Central was fourth at 17:33.57 and her teammate, Eleonaor Curtabbi, rounded out the Top Five with a time of 17:41.36.

Walters State got a time of 22:11.43 from freshman Dakota MicKinney (Morristown, Tenn.) to finished 163rd, sophomore Karli Yarid (Morristown, Tenn.) was 223rd at 23:34.57, freshman Lindsey Seagle (Jefferson City, Tenn.) was 231st with 23:51.29, freshman  Breanna Scearce (Washburn, Tenn.) was 286th at 30:12.08 and freshman Daniela Medina (Morristown, Tenn.) took 289th with a time of 31:39.87.

On the men's side, freshman Chance Collins (Seymour, Tenn.), the only Senators male runner to participate, finished 140th in the field of 343 in the 8K with a time of 27:32.96.

Wesley Banguria from Colby took the NJCAA title with a time of 22:54.58. Zouhair Talbi of Northwest Kansas was second at 23:57.51, Kassim Kibet of Iowa Western was third at 24:05.24, Andrew Kibet from Hutchinson was fourth at 24:05.60 and Dennis Kipto of El Paso was fifth at 24:17.81.