KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Southern men's cross country team continued its historic fall with a record-breaking performance at the Appalachian Challenge in Knoxville on Saturday. Led by freshman Frankline Kipruto, who set a new program-best 8K time, the Firehawks finished fifth overall in a highly competitive 20-team field.
Kipruto clocked an incredible 24:28.6, finishing third overall and breaking the previous UT Southern 8K record of 24:34, set by teammate Bruno Villazon. His pace of 4:55 per mile helped power a team effort that also established a new program-best team average time of 25:26, surpassing the previous mark of 25:41.
Fellow Firehawks joined the record-setting day with standout performances across the lineup. Villazon crossed the line in 24:47.0 (14th place), followed by Amon Rotich at 25:16.4 (30th). Matthew Andrea placed 71st (26:20.8) and JJ Lincoln rounded out the scoring group in 73rd (26:22.0).
Jacob Casteel (27:28.0, 130th) and Cameron Stovall (28:07.7, 148th) also contributed solid efforts, helping the Firehawks secure a total team time of 2:07:14 and a top-five team finish ahead of multiple nationally recognized programs.
UT Southern Individual Results
Team Standings (Top 10)
| Place |
Team |
Total Time |
Avg. Time |
Score |
| 1 |
Cumberlands |
2:02:44 |
24:32 |
33 |
| 2 |
Milligan |
2:04:21 |
24:52 |
81 |
| 3 |
Rio Grande |
2:04:47 |
24:57 |
96 |
| 4 |
Montreat |
2:06:00 |
25:12 |
133 |
| 5 |
UT Southern |
2:07:14 |
25:26 |
157 |
| 6 |
St. Francis (Ind.) |
2:09:09 |
25:49 |
216 |
| 7 |
Reinhardt |
2:09:27 |
25:53 |
228 |
| 8 |
Southeastern U. |
2:10:37 |
26:07 |
253 |
| 9 |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
2:10:43 |
26:08 |
258 |
| 10 |
SCAD Savannah |
2:11:03 |
26:12 |
273 |
| (20 total teams) |
|
|
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The Firehawks' fifth-place finish marked their best team performance of the season, improving both their average and time spread dramatically from previous meets.
UT Southern will now turn its focus to the SSAC Cross Country Championships, set for November 7 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Oakville, Alabama, where the Firehawks look to carry their momentum into the postseason.
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