CLINTON, Miss.- Choctaw Trails proved once again to be a favorite course for the UAPB Cross Country teams. For the second straight week a UAPB team took first place as they ran in dominate fashion throughout the duration of the meet.
Last week the women won the Jackson State Invite and this past weekend the men's team, finished in first place at the Watson Ford Invite hosted by Mississippi College. Led by sophomore Jimmy Oribo, the Golden Lion's placed five runners in the top ten of 180 athletes and 17 colleges and universities.
“The course was muddy after a lot of rain this past week and their performance was tremendous considering that I wanted my top people to sit back in the beginning,” said UAPB Head Coach Curtis Pittman.
“You have to contend with pride and ego when you ask a kid to do something radical as far as not going a 100%. That is what John Bwete, Geoffrey Kosgei, Moses Alukunyang and Oribo did for the first two miles of the race while freshman Charles Johnson and junior Stephen Kipkurui set the pace. I felt after last weeks race in Oklahoma that Charles and Stephen had to prove to themselves, to the team and to me that they were capable of performing much better and finishing strong.”
The UAPB women's team also followed the strategy of the men by having junior Karla Atencio stay back and run with sprinter Betty Burua. Going into the meet the Lady Lions second and third runners, Monica Carillo and Esther Adeyemi wanted to run the first two miles at a pace conducive to breaking the 20 minute mark at the SWAC. Both Carillo and Adeyemi were able to do so successfully.
The Chili Pepper Invitational will serve as the Golden Lions' and Lady Lions' last tune-up for the SWAC Championships which are set to held on October 26, in Baton Rouge, La.
