BATON ROUGE, La. - The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff women's and men's teams swept the 2009 SWAC Cross Championships Monday at Highland Park.
The UAPB women's team won with 25 points, ahead of defending champion Alabama State (39) with Grambling State finishing third (81).
On the men's side, UAPB won with 36 points, ahead of second-place Mississippi Valley State (57) and third-place finisher Alabama State (60), the 2008 defending champion.
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Cross Country team had to battle through injuries and a treacherous course in order to capture both the men's and women's titles. The Cross Country squads have now won 3-of-5 SWAC Championship Meets in which they have participated in as this marks the programs third title in three years.
“These Championships are a tribute to the hard work our team put in during the off-season and the entire year,” said UAPB Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach Curtis Pittman. Going into the meet we felt like we had a good chance of winning but to see it happen is truly a great feeling.”
While Derilius won the individual title in a time of 19:47.56 for Alabama State on the 5K course, the Lady Lions' posted a strong group effort with five of the top 10 finishers. UAPB took the second-fourth place finishes, led by Monica Carillo (19:55.12), Karla Atencio (19:56.66) and Ester Adeyemi (19:59.36). Ninfa Barnard (20:15.74) and Jackline Chumo (20:19.47) finished seventh and ninth, respectively, for UAPB.
In the men's competition, Oribo led the way with a time of 25:22.14 as the Golden Lions took four of the top 10 finishes in on the 8K course. UAPB's John Bwete (25:43.21) earned third place, Charles Johnson (25:54.73) sixth place, and Moses Alukunyang (26:33.29) finished 10th.
Newcomers Atencio and Carillo on the women's side as well as Johnson on the men's side helped fuel UAPB's resurgence within the conference as the trio ran well throughout the season. UAPB's Jimmy Oribo was named Athlete of the Year after finishing the meet in first place.
“I'm proud of all of them,” Pittman said. “I'd say I'm surprised, but at the same time, I knew if they did well, they could achieve this remarkable feat. We knew we had the talent to do it and they went out and proved it.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff will now get set to participate in the NCAA Regional Meet which will take place at Baylor University on Nov. 14th.
Women's Team Results:
1. Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (25)
2. Alabama State (39)
3. Grambling State (81)
4. Jackson State (93)
5. Prairie View A&M (136)
6. Southern (160)
7. Mississippi Valley State (191)
8. Alabama A&M (199)
9. Texas Southern (236)
10. Alcorn State (256)
Women's Top 10 Finishers:
1st Team All-Conference
1. Kesia Derilius (ALST) 19:47.56 (Athlete of the Year)
2. Monica Carillo (UAPB) 19:55.12
3. Karla Atencio (UAPB) 19:56.66
4. Esther Adeyemi (UAPB) 19:59.36
5. Grace Korir (GSU) 20:06.03
2nd Team All-Conference
6. Raheema Hodges (ALST) 20:13.13
7. Ninfa Barnard (UAPB) 20:15.74
8. Lutrisha Altidor (ALST) 20:17.60
9. Jackline Chumo (UAPB) 20:19.47
10. Jemu ZarZar (JSU) 20:21.73
Men's Team Results:
1. Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (36)
2. Mississippi Valley State (57)
3. Alabama State (60)
4. Grambling State (105)
5. Jackson State(122)
6. Prairie View A&M (131)
7. Alcorn State (206)
8. Southern (213)
9. Texas Southern (252)
Men's Top 10 Finishers:
1st Team All-Conference
1. Jimmy Oribo (UAPB) 25:22.14
2. Darwin Price (GSU) 25:35.06
3. John Bwete (UAPB) 25:43.21
4. Robert Gunn (ALST) 25:44.27
5. Jephtah Kenei (ALST) 25:49.56
2nd Team All-Conference
6. Charles Johnson(UAPB) 25:54.73
7. Bii Victor (MVSU) 26:20.87
8. Antipah Sugut (JSU) 26:24.58
9. Hernand Roberto (MVSU) 26:26.04
10. Moses Alukunyang (UAPB) 26.33.29
