Cross Country Teams Finish Strong in Final Tune-ups Before American Championships

Friday, October 17

Tuscaloosa, AL

9:20 a.m.

Tulane University

Crimson Classic

Cross Country Teams Finish Strong in Final Tune-ups Before American Championships

Oct 17, 2025 | Cross Country

TUSCALOOSA, AL / MADISON, WI – On Friday, Oct. 17, Tulane's cross country teams had the final tune-ups before next next month's American Championship. The men, led by Bernard Cheruiyot, placed 12th overall at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Wisconsin at the renowned Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course. The women, led by Blezzin Kimutai, finished as the runner-up at the Crimson Classic in Alabama at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.

The men's team, who started the meet as the No. 17 ranked program in country, took 12th in the ultra-competitive in 8k Championship Race of the Nuttycombe Invitational with 329 points and an average time of 24:04.04 per runner. The program finished ahead of six ranked teams including No. 1 Iowa State in the competition. Bernard Cheruiyot finished third overall individually among the 230 finishers with a 23:10. He was followed for Tulane by Silas Kiptanui (30th overall – 23:46.8), Gilbert Rono (87th overall – 24:21.2), Rogerio Amaral (95th overall – 24:25.2), Tommy Rice (117th overall– 24:36.6), Illia Kunin (141st overall – 24:49.3), Paul James Pam (161st overall – 25:04) and Juan Giron (207th overall – 26:06.6). Earlier in the day at the 8K B Race, Zach Van Housten took 29th with a 25:01.0 with Daniel Reza placed 55th with his 25:47.4.

The No. 25 Tulane women, at the Crimson Classic, placed second overall behind only No. 26 South Carolina and ahead of No. 13 Alabama with 85 points in the 6K race. The team had an average of 20:23.4 per runner in the competition. Blezzin Kimutai was the top finisher at fifth overall with a 19:43.7. She was followed for Tulane by Dorcas Naibei (11th overall – 20:12.4), Elena Liano-Rengel (23rd overall – 20:42.8), Janae Dean (24th overall – 20:43.3), Dana Rojas Vazquez (26th overall – 20:46.9), Allison Hall (28th overall – 20:49.4), Alex Sharp (30th overall – 20:49.4) and Petra Dos Santos (37th overall – 20:50.3).

Next, Tulane's cross country teams set their sights on the American Conference Championship on November 1, hosted by the University of Charlotte at Frank Liske Park in Concord, North Carolina.

Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.

---TulaneGreenWave.com---