Texas Tech Cross Country – Big 12 Runner of the Week

IRVING, Texas – Sophomore runner Ernest Cheruiyot was named the Big 12 Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. The weekly cross country award is the first of his career.

Cheruiyot took first overall in the men’s 8k with a time of 27:13.30, 54 seconds ahead of his teammate, Nathan Kapel. Overall, the men’s team scored 28 points for the team win, thanks to a 1-2-4-7-14 finish.

It’s the first cross country season for Cheruiyot as he arrived to Tech in early January and began the indoor track season before wrapping up his season placing fourth in the 10k at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In two meets this season, the Kenya native has placed second and first.

This is Texas Tech’s first weekly honor on the men’s side since 2016 – Miguel Bautista (Oct. 4).

The Red Raiders continue to climb in the polls. The men moved up one spot in the Mountain Region to No. 9, while still receiving votes in the USTFCCCA Coaches poll as the first team out of the listed top-30 nationally ranked teams.

Up Next

Texas Tech will travel to Hobbs, N.M., for this Friday’s meet at New Mexico Junior College.

Release Provided By Chris Duarte Texas Tech Athletics