Saturday, November 19, 2016

SAINT LEO, Fla. – For the seventh conseuctive year, Alaska Anchorage scored a top-10 team finish as the Seawolves, led by Michel Ramirez and Edwin Kangogo, placed fifth in the men’s race at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, held Nov. 19 at The Abbey Course on the campus of Saint Leo University.

The Seawolves finished with a score of 222 points. The fifth place finish is the third best in program history behind UAA’s third place finishes in 2012 and 2015.

Ramirez, who was part of a power-three of Seawolves who led races throughout the season, earned his second All-American trophy with his best ever individuals finish. Ramirez placed 13th as he covered the 10,000-meter course in a time of 30:41.7. Kangogo, this year’s GNAC champion, was the conference’s only other All-American as he placed 34th in a time of 31:11.5.

Henry Cheseto, was placed third in 2015, was Alaska Anchorage’s No. 3 runner this year as he placed 49th in a time of 31:28.5. Justin Carrancho placed 73rd in 31:54.1 while Victor Samoei rounded out the scoring five as he placed 90th in a time of 32:10.3. Nathan Kipchumba provided a solid sixth runner for the Seawolves, placing 91st in 32:10.8.

Western Washington’s Isaac Derline, the conference’s lone men’s individual qualifier, placed 102nd in a time of 32:17.7.

After having the trophy taken away for a year by conference rival Colorado Mines, Adams State claimed the team individual championship with 54 points, placing all five scoring runners in the top-30. Grand Valley State placed second with 79 points while the Orediggers finished third with 153 points. Chico State finished fourth with 166 points.

Missouri Southern’s Vincent Kiprop claimed the individual championship with a finish time of 29:07.4. Shorter’s Alfred Chelanga, the 2015 champion, finished second in 29:36.3 and James Ngandu of Tiffin placed third in 29:52.7.