Five Zips Earn All-MAC Honors at MAC Cross Country Championships

Saturday, November 1

Buffalo, N.Y.

11:00 AM

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

Five Zips Earn All-MAC Honors at MAC Cross Country Championships

November 01 | Cross Country

MEN'S FINAL RESULTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S FINAL RESULTS (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The University of Akron cross country team garnered a quartet of First-Team All-Mid-American Conference performances to highlight the effort of the Zips at the MAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday (Nov. 1).

The Akron men's team placed third of 10 teams, while the Zips' women's squad finished ninth of 13 teams in the women's field.

Sophomore Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) led the efforts of the men's squad placing second in the men's field crossing the line in a team-best time of 23:52.2 to earn First-Team All-MAC honors for the second consecutive campaign.

On the women's side, sophomore Mercy Jebitok (Kapsabet, Kenya) collected First-Team All-MAC honors placing second in the women's field coming across the line in personal-best time of 20:35.6 en route to being named the MAC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year.

Freshman Noah Nyageo (Kitale, Kenya) and junior Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) finished third and fourth, respectively, garnering First-Team All-MAC laurels on the strength of times of 23:54.6 and 24:12.0. Kirui earned all-league honors for the second time after pulling in second team accolades in 2023.

Nyageo was selected as the MAC Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year.

Culminating the scoring efforts for Akron's men's squad in times of 25:30.7 (38th) and 25:58.9 (52nd), respectively, was senior Taye Gonzalez (Lewis Center, Ohio) and sophomore Emil Stanford (Sunbury, Ohio).

Additionally, junior Majid Abuaun (Rocky River, Ohio) and junior Quinn Hopkins (Akron, Ohio) added times of 26.22.3 (58th) and 26:30.5 (63rd).

Junior Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) garnered All-MAC honors for the first time placing 10th in a time of 21:02.8 to pull in Second-Team All-MAC laurels.

Rounding out the scoring performances in the women's race for the Zips were juniors Kayla Sucharski (Galena, Ohio) and Kennedy Schlessman (Huron, Ohio) along with sophomore Jadyn Towns (Berlin Heights, Ohio) in times of 22:56.0 (72nd), 22:58.4 (75th-PR) and 24:43.6 (105th).

Additionally, redshirt senior Emily Razo (Salem, Ohio) crossed the line in 25:07.0 (107th).

UP NEXT
The Zips travel to Evansville, Ind., to compete at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14.