By Zack Ciboth
A third straight Conference Carolinas title is headed back to Pembroke after the Men’s Cross Country placed first in the Conference Carolinas Championship races this past Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C. The Men’s team tallied 48 points to finish ahead of Converse and Lees-McRae. The Women’s side finished third with 68 points and finished shy of Converse and North Greenville who won the championship.
Moureen Kimaiyo took home the women’s individual title for the Braves in what is now back to back seasons for her.
Kibet was named Freshman of the Year as he crossed with a time of 25:26.5, while Ryan Jimenez took ninth at 25:40.8, with Jack Phieffer behind him in 10th with a time of 25:42.7 to place three Braves in the top 10. Norman Junker (25:53.6) took 12th, with Antony Kigen (25:54.4) in 13th, and Lucas Nervo (26:14.8) finishing 18th. Kibet, Jimenez , Phieffer , Junker , Kigen , and Nervo were all named to the All-Conference team.
Conrad Robertson finished 22nd with a time of 26:24.5, Payden Lewis took 25th at 26:31.1, with Daniel Mejias in 58th with a time of 27:48.5. Will Clancey placed 61st at 27:51.6, with Charlie Schihl finishing 83rd with a time of 28:33.4, and JP Marquez taking 92nd at 28:49.4. Sean Todd (28:57.5) was 94th, Christian Whiteside (29:07.7) took 97th, with Gabe Blackwater (29:09.8) crossing 98th, and Kevin Vazquez (30:34.3) finishing 115th to round out the men’s side.
Kimaiyo was named Runner of the Year and took home the individual title once again on the women’s side with a time of 21:46.1, good for the second-fastest 6K time in school history, while Jackline Kosgei crossed ninth at 23:00.6. Michela Gritti took 16th with a time of 23:45.6, with Malea Bennewitz right behind her in 17th at 23:48.1. Kimaiyo, Kosgei, Gritti , and Bennewitz were each named All-Conference.
Sofia Skidmore (24:33.1) crossed in 25th, Leticia Pena (25:00.3) took 34th, with Jana Termos (26:05.7) taking 46th, and Lizzy Laurine placing 61st with a time of 27:06.2 to round out the women’s side.
The Braves will now take a week off before they return to Spartanburg, S.C. for the NCAA Southeast Regional races on Saturday, November 9.