BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Cross Country weekly awards on Monday, October 12, 2026, where Bethune-Cookman made a sweep on the Men’s Side with Andrew Kiplagat earning Runner of the Week and Jayden Santos-Gonzalez corralling Newcomer of the Week. On the Women’s Side, Lisel Ndlovu was named Runner of the Week and Rose Muturi was named Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Cross Country Men’s Runner of the Week: Andrew Kiplagat, Bethune-Cookman
The Junior from Chebara, Kenya led the way for the Wildcats in the 19^th Annual Sand Shark Invitational, as the individual champion with a time of 25:16.5. Kiplagat continues to build through his collegiate career with wins and adding his second weekly award of the season. Kiplagat turns his attention to the 2026 Ed Holloway Classic on Friday, October 16^th in Lakeland, Florida.
 
SWAC Men’s Cross Country Men’s Newcomer of the Week: Jayden Santos-Gonzalez, Bethune-Cookman
The Sophomore from Orlando, Florida placed third in the 19^th Annual Sand Shark Invitational on Saturday, October 10^th with a time of 26:18.1. Santos-Gonzalez continues adding to his collegiate resume and building with a storied program as he looks to turn his focus to the final race before the 2026 SWAC Championships at the 2026 Ed Holloway Classic on Friday, October 16^th in Lakeland, Florida.
 
SWAC Women’s Cross Country Women’s Runner of the Week: Lisel Ndlovu, Bethune-Cookman
The Junior paced the Lady Wildcats with a third-place finish, adding a 19:38.2 time at the 19^th Annual Sand Shark Invitational on Saturday, October 10^th. Ndlovu adds her first weekly honor of the season as she now turns her focus to the 2026 Ed Holloway Classic on Friday, October 16^th in Lakeland, Florida.
 
SWAC Women’s Cross Country Women’s Newcomer of the Week: Rose Muturi, Florida A&M
The Junior from Nyahururu, Kenya placed seventh overall in the women’s 6k at the Florida State Cross Country Invitational on Friday, October 9^th, while leading the Lady Rattlers to sixth-place finish as a team out of 16. Muturi added a time of 22:24.6 and had a faster time than every Florida Atlantic runner and all but one Florida State runner. Muturi adds her first weekly honor of the season following a top-10 finish and now turns her focus to the 2026 SWAC Championships in Tallahassee, Florida on October 27^th.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis. 

Women’s competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
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