PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern cross country programs continued their remarkable 2026 campaign as Frankline Kipruto and Vera Maisaje were named the Southern States Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week for performances during the weekend of Oct. 17.
The honors mark another sweep for the Firehawks and further establish Kipruto and Maisaje as one of the top cross country tandems in the NAIA. Between them, the duo has now collected eight SSAC Runner of the Week awards this season, helping lead UT Southern to historic heights on both the conference and national levels.
Kipruto earned his sixth career SSAC Runner of the Week honor and his fourth award of the 2026 season after another record-breaking performance at the Kennemer Classic.
The sophomore from Eldoret, Kenya finished second overall against a field loaded with NCAA Division I and Division II talent, crossing the finish line in a school-record 23:39.4 over the 8K course. Averaging an incredible 4:45.5 per mile, Kipruto lowered his own program record for the second consecutive race and helped pace the No. 6 Firehawks to a runner-up finish.
His performance helped UT Southern finish ahead of NCAA Division I programs North Alabama and Austin Peay while continuing the Firehawks' rise among the nation's elite programs.
On the women's side, Maisaje collected her fourth consecutive SSAC Runner of the Week award, extending one of the most dominant stretches by a runner in program history.
The junior from Lagos, Nigeria covered the 5K course in 18:25.6 at the Kennemer Classic, finishing 11th overall among 106 runners while averaging 5:55.8 per mile. Competing against a field dominated by NCAA Division I and Division II programs, Maisaje was the highest-finishing NAIA runner in the race and led the Firehawks to a sixth-place team finish.
Her latest accolade adds to an already historic season that includes multiple program records, national recognition, and a string of elite performances against some of the South's top competition.
Together, Kipruto and Maisaje have become the driving force behind one of the most successful seasons in UT Southern cross country history. Their leadership has helped the men's team climb to No. 6 in the NAIA Coaches Poll, matching the highest national ranking in program history, while the women's team has continued to receive national recognition and challenge some of the region's top NCAA programs.
With conference championships approaching, the Firehawks' dynamic duo continues to set the pace for a program that is making history on a weekly basis.
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