MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Frankline Kipruto and Vera Maisaje, both of UT Southern, were named SSAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week. The awards are based on performance for the weekend of October 2.
Frankline Kipruto (UT Southern – SO – Eldoret, Kenya)
- This is his fifth career weekly honor and third of 2026
- Kipruto led the 10th-ranked Firehawks at the CBU Invite, beating his own 8K program record with a time of 23:30.7
- He was the only runner in the field of mostly NCAA Division I runners to break the 24-minute mark
Vera Maisaje (UT Southern – JR – Lagos, Nigeria)
- This is her third consecutive weekly honor
- Maisaje broke her own 6K program record, clocking 22:14.3 to finish eighth overall in the CBU Invite
- She averaged 5:57.8 per mile and helped the Firehawks to a fourth place finish in the meet
Previous Winners (Men, Women)
Week 1: Frankline Kipruto (UT Southern), Kristina Stojanovic (William Carey)
Week 2: Jonah Barnhardt (Blue Mountain), Ella Shepherd (Blue Mountain)
Week 3: Frankline Kipruto (UT Southern), Vera Maisaje (UT Southern)
Week 4: Spencer Head (UT Southern), Vera Maisaje (UT Southern)