**EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is being published retroactively long after it was submitted for review due to a backup on the sports desk. This story refers to a competition that took place on Oct. 18.**
Kentucky cross country traveled to Illinois on Friday to compete in the Bradley Pink Classic, where the Cats kept falling short of first, but had two freshmen who stole the show.
Collins Kiprop Kipngok, a Nakuru, Kenya, native, dominated in the men’s red race, taking an immediate lead after rising five spots. Through the first section of the course, he would hold a 10-second lead over second place and finish with a 12-second lead, claiming his first-ever individual title. Kiprop Kipngok finished the course at 23:32.66, barely beating out his time from the last race.
Kiprop Kipngok would not be the only standout, however, with Morgan Dick also having a great performance in the women’s white race.
Dick, originally from Illinois, would return to her home state and have a great performance, starting by rising five spots during the first section of the course. She would continue her dominant streak, moving up another nine spots to be in second place entering the third section of the course. She would continue a great race and would end up dropping one spot to finish the race third.
Freshman Noel Barlette of Orchard Park, New York, would also have a great race, finishing right behind Dick in fourth place. Barlette finished with a time of 21:59.77 after Dick, who finished at 21:47.80.
It was a big day for Northwestern as it would take home two individual titles as well as two team titles. Mia Mraz won the women’s white race, completing the race with a time of 21:35.88, while Ava Earl won the women’s red race with a time of 20:14.33. Northwestern would also take the team awards, beating out Kentucky in the women’s white race and Loyola Chicago in the women’s red race.
The Cats would have good team scores as they finished second in three of the four events. Despite the great race from Kiprop Kipgnok, it would be North Dakota State taking the win by surprise.
The Cats then would get second in the men’s and women’s white race, falling to Loyola Chicago in the men’s and Northwestern in the women’s. Loyola also claimed the individual title in the men’s white race as Samuel Field would take home the win, completing the race with a time of 24:42.22.
Kentucky will next travel to Bryan-College Station, Texas, to begin the challenge of reaching the SEC postseason. It will play at Watts Cross Country Course at 10 a.m. and will be live on the SEC Network.
