FLORENCE, Ala. – Less than 24 hours after matching the highest national ranking in program history, the No. 6 University of Tennessee Southern men's cross country team delivered another impressive performance Friday at the Kennemer Classic, finishing second in a talented field featuring NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and junior college competition.
The Firehawks entered the meet fresh off Thursday's NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll, where UT Southern climbed into a tie for No. 6 nationally alongside Embry-Riddle. The ranking marked the highest position in program history and further solidified the Firehawks as one of the premier teams in the NAIA.
UT Southern backed up that ranking with a runner-up finish, scoring 52 points and trailing only Jacksonville State. The Firehawks finished ahead of NCAA Division I host North Alabama, NCAA Division II West Florida, Austin Peay, Wallace State, and seven other programs.
Sophomore Frankline Kipruto continued his historic season by shattering his own UT Southern 8K school record for the second consecutive race. The Eldoret, Kenya native crossed the finish line second overall in 23:39.4, averaging 4:45.5 per mile against one of the strongest fields the program has faced this season.
Kipruto's performance came just two weeks after he established the previous school record at the CBU Invitational and provided another reminder of why he is one of the top runners in the NAIA. He finished second only to Jacksonville State's Shadrack Kipkurgat while outperforming competitors from North Alabama, Austin Peay, and West Florida.
Senior Spencer Head continued his outstanding campaign with a seventh-place finish in 25:03.9, giving the Firehawks two runners inside the top 10.
Junior Amon Rotich added another strong performance with a 13th-place finish in 25:37.5, while sophomore Martin Van Hamme delivered another personal-best effort, placing 17th overall in 25:44.9.
Sophomore Luca Neumeister followed immediately behind in 18th place with a time of 25:45.4, helping the Firehawks place five runners among the top 18 finishers.
Junior Bruno Villazon rounded out the scoring five with a 23rd-place finish in 25:56.9, while freshman Davide Ambruschi added a 30th-place finish in 26:05.0.
The Firehawks' depth was on full display throughout the race. Seven runners finished under 26:06, highlighting the pack-running ability that has fueled UT Southern's rise into the national spotlight.
The runner-up finish comes on the heels of another historic week for the program. In Thursday's NAIA Coaches Poll, the Firehawks moved into a tie for sixth nationally, trailing only Cumberlands, Southern Oregon, College of Idaho, The Master's, and Madonna while sitting alongside Embry-Riddle among the nation's elite programs.
With postseason competition quickly approaching, UT Southern continues to strengthen its case as one of the top teams in the country. Between Kipruto's record-setting performances, personal records from Rotich and Van Hamme, and another strong team showing against NCAA competition, the Firehawks continue to build momentum entering championship season.
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