The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Trio Earns Invitations to NCAA Cross Country Championships
November 15 | Cross Country
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron men's cross country freshman Mercy Jebitok (Kapsabet, Kenya), sophomore Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) and junior Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) each earned the opportunity to showcase their talents at the biggest stage after their selections to the field for the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships hosted by Missouri at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday (Nov. 22).
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The women's 6K race will be contested at 10:20 a.m. ET, while the men's 10K race will start at 11:10 a.m. ET.
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Jebitok is fifth Akron runner to qualify for NCAA Cross Country Championships in program history and first since Morgan Sulzener in 2004. She will join Sulzener (2004), Adriana Zalucka (2002), Michelle Rizzo (1992) and Judy Ervin (1992) as Zips to have run at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
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Jebitok collected All-Region honors after crossing the line in a career-best time of 20:02.73 at the Great Lakes Regional on Friday (Nov. 14) to place sixth overall.
Kipchirchir became the first Akron runner to qualify in back-to-back campaigns, while Kirui earned his first selection and will be the fourth overall Zip to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in program history. The duo joins Marc Migliozzi, who ran in the title race in 2019, as well as Timothy Chesondin, who earned All-America accolades in 2023.
Kipchirchir and Kirui each garnered All-Region accolades on the strength of traversing the 10K course at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday (Nov. 14) in times of 29:54.83 and 30:02.92, respectively, to finish sixth and 11th overall. Kirui's performance stands as a career-best time and the fourth-fastest effort in program history.
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The women's 6K race will be contested at 10:20 a.m. ET, while the men's 10K race will start at 11:10 a.m. ET.
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Jebitok is fifth Akron runner to qualify for NCAA Cross Country Championships in program history and first since Morgan Sulzener in 2004. She will join Sulzener (2004), Adriana Zalucka (2002), Michelle Rizzo (1992) and Judy Ervin (1992) as Zips to have run at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
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Jebitok collected All-Region honors after crossing the line in a career-best time of 20:02.73 at the Great Lakes Regional on Friday (Nov. 14) to place sixth overall.
Kipchirchir became the first Akron runner to qualify in back-to-back campaigns, while Kirui earned his first selection and will be the fourth overall Zip to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in program history. The duo joins Marc Migliozzi, who ran in the title race in 2019, as well as Timothy Chesondin, who earned All-America accolades in 2023.
Kipchirchir and Kirui each garnered All-Region accolades on the strength of traversing the 10K course at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday (Nov. 14) in times of 29:54.83 and 30:02.92, respectively, to finish sixth and 11th overall. Kirui's performance stands as a career-best time and the fourth-fastest effort in program history.
Players Mentioned
2024 Akron Zips Women's Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Athletes 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
2024 Akron Zips Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Coach - 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
2024 Akron Zips Men's Cross Country Preseason Press Conference - Athletes 8/28/24
Thursday, August 29
Akron Zips Men's Cross Country Media Day with Student-Athletes - 8/31/23
Thursday, August 31
