PULASKI, Tenn. – Following an outstanding season-opening performance, University of Tennessee Southern men's cross country runner Frankline Kipruto has been named the Southern States Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
The honor marks the third weekly award of Kipruto's career and comes after he helped lead the Firehawks to an impressive showing at the JSU Foothills Invitational on Sept. 4.
Competing against a field filled with NCAA Division I and Division II athletes, Kipruto finished sixth overall among 164 runners and was the top-finishing NAIA competitor in the meet. The Eldoret, Kenya, native crossed the finish line in 15:25.1 over the 5K course, averaging 4:57.7 per mile.
Kipruto's performance helped UT Southern finish fourth overall in the team standings and first among all NAIA programs competing in the event. The Firehawks placed ahead of several NCAA programs while facing one of the toughest fields on their schedule.
His top-10 finish highlighted a strong opening day for a UT Southern squad that entered the season receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Cross Country Preseason Top 25 and was selected second in the SSAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll.
Kipruto and the Firehawks return to action on Sept. 18 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama.
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