CLINTON, Miss. | Sophomore Godfrey Kimuati won the men's 5k as the Jackson State University men's and women's cross country teams began the 2025 season at the MC Opener at Chocataw Trails on Friday afternoon.
The women's squad placed fifth overall, finishing ahead of several teams, including conference opponents Alcorn State, Grambling State, and Mississippi Valley, along with Spring Hill and Delta State, among others. The men's unit placed seventh ahead of teams including Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State, Belhaven, and Tougaloo.
MEN'S TEAM SCORES
1) Mississippi College - 28; 2) Mobile - 86; 3) Loyola-New Orleans - 111; 4) William Carey - 120; 5) Alcorn State - 178; 6) Millsaps -183; 7) Jackson State - 190; 8) Belhaven - 230; 9) Grambling State - 246; 10 - Mississippi Valley State - 253; 11) Spring Hill - 269; 12) Xavier-Louisiana 277; 13) Tougaloo - 325; 14) MUW - 362; 15) East Central - 381; 16 - Stillman - 450.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Godfrey Kimutai (Jackson State) 15:28.16; 2) Duncan Koima (MVSU) 15:29.44; 3) Carson Smith (MC) 15:32.04; 4) Matthew Singletary (MC) 15:35.04; 5) Joey Jones (Mobile) 15:38.34; Preston Speed (Unattached) 15:39.83; 7) Cooper Parmer (MC) 15:40.57; 8) Baxter Friedman (MC) 15:48.42; 9) Christian Balcer (MC) 15:49.63; 10) Timothy Rotich (MVSU) 15:51.16.
JACKSON STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1) Godfrey Kimutai - 15:28.16; 37) Malvin Boen - 17:07.45; 71) Ber'Narjay Jackson - 18:42.32; 84) Derrick Eskridge - 19:31.78; 95) Dominic Turner - 20:09.95 (95).
WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
1) Mississippi College - 15; 2) William Carey - 54; 3) Loyola-New Orleans - 146; 4) Mobile - 148; 5) Jackson State - 152; 6 - Alcorn State - 191; 7) Spring Hill - 191; 8) Delta State - 195; 9) Meridian CC - 225; 10) Belhaven - 252; 11) Mississippi Valley State - 278; 12) Grambling State 284; 13 - MUW - 302.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Bre Bell (MC) 18:29.29; 2) Taylor Benoit (MC) 18:34.29; 3) Lauren Wallace (MC) 18:43.31; 4) Kathryn Finch (MC) 18:55.07; 5) Audrey Mayette (MC) 18:55.09; 6) Maria Tirado (WCC) 19:34.67; 7) Kinley Harris (MC) 19:35.25; 8) Gabrielle Jeffery (MC) 19:40.86; 9) Catherine Wallace (MC) 19:47.25; 10) Shana Sellers (MC) 19:51.73.
JACKSON STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
24) Lorine Jelegat - 21:22.04; 37) Amara Hawkins-Quinones - 22:24.38; 40) Karina Griffin - 22:37.24; 46) Kaylin Jackson - 23:07.39; 57) Xhamani Thompson - 24:53.38; 88) Derriana Moss - 30:56.04.
MEET NOTES
- Kimutai continued his momentum from his successful freshman year, where he won SWAC Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year, by winning the men's 5k
- Jelagat placed 24th in her first competition as a Tiger, leading the women's team for the Tigers
- The women's top-five finish was an improvement over last year's competition
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to action at the Nicholls XC Invitational in Thibodaux, La., on Saturday, Sept. 27.
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