Alabama Men’s Cross Country Claims Second Straight Regional Title

The Alabama men’s cross country team celebrated a significant achievement on November 10, 2023, by winning the NCAA South Regional Championship for the second consecutive year. In a standout performance, athlete Doris Lemngole set a new course record in the women’s 6k event, completing the race in an impressive time of 18:43.77.

Alabama head coach Dan Waters expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating, “They stayed composed, trusted their preparation and ran with a purpose.” He highlighted the men’s successful title defense and Lemngole’s record-breaking run as major highlights of a rewarding day for the program. The men’s team secured their spot at the national championships, scheduled for November 22, 2023, at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.

While the men’s team triumphed, the Alabama women’s team finished third overall at the regionals, earning a total of 125 points. They now await the results of the selection show on November 11 to determine if they will receive an at-large bid to the national competition.

In the women’s individual results, Lemngole’s performance was exceptional, closely followed by her teammates:
1. Doris Lemngole | 18:43.8 | course record
2. Caren Kiplagat | 18:49.7
3. Cynthia Jemutai | 19:10.3
60. Meriel Rowland | 20:53.6
62. Leah Kleekamp | 20:58.1
71. Kaylie Crews | 21:11.1
88. Lilly Walters | 21:17.6

The men’s individual results were equally impressive, with several runners finishing in the top ranks:
1. Dismus Lokira | 29:11.9
2. Dennis Kipruto | 29:16.4
3. Nelson Pariken | 29:37.3
4. Ezekiel Pitireng | 29:44.5
5. Carson Burian | 29:58.0
35. Evan Trapp | 30:39.3
73. Jackson Hogsed | 31:30.2

In addition to the cross country accolades, the Alabama volleyball team also enjoyed a successful outing, defeating Vanderbilt in four sets during homecoming weekend. The match concluded with scores of 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, and 25-21, marking Alabama’s fourth Southeastern Conference (SEC) victory of the season. This win ties their highest conference win total since 2022.

Head coach Rashinda Reed praised her team, saying, “Our team really stepped it up. They were incredibly relentless… Every person pulled their weight on the court.” The standout performance came from Victoria Barrett, who led the team with 17 kills. The Crimson Tide collectively achieved a season-high of 55 kills in the match.

With this victory, Alabama’s record improved to 12-12 overall and 4-10 in the SEC. The team is set to compete against Missouri on November 12, 2023, in their regular season finale.

As the Crimson Tide continues its pursuit of excellence in both cross country and volleyball, the focus now shifts to the upcoming national championship meet and the final matches of the volleyball season. The momentum gained from these recent successes could be pivotal moving forward.