EARLYSVILLE, Va. — Freshman Clinton Kipruto finished fifth overall and Norfolk State put four runners inside the top 32 to take fourth in a 14-team field Friday at the Panorama Farms Invitational, hosted by the University of Virginia.
Kipruto covered the 8,000-meter course in 24:35.4 and was in contention for second place throughout, sitting second at the 5K mark in 15:12.3 before crossing 4.2 seconds behind runner-up Samuel Idiens of Virginia Tech. Hokie teammate George Couttie won the race in 23:43.9.
Junior Ian Kimutai delivered his best finish of the season in 13th at 24:47.9, less than 13 seconds behind Kipruto. Sophomore Daniel Mathenge was 27th in 25:20.7 and junior Mohammed Mrahi followed in 32nd at 25:27.2, with junior Lewis Too closing the scoring in 50th at 25:51.3.
Sophomore Jemmel Green (57th, 25:55.9) and junior Mathew Kipkoech (65th, 26:09.4) also finished for the Spartans.
Norfolk State scored 112 points behind Virginia Tech (31), Virginia (51) and Wingate (75), and was the top MEAC program in the field, finishing ahead of Delaware State (ninth, 256) and Coppin State (14th, 463). The Spartans averaged 25:12.50 across their five scorers with a 1:15.9 spread between their first and fifth runners.
Runners competed in 70-degree temperatures under partly cloudy skies with 95 percent humidity.
Norfolk State Results — Men's 8K
Team Scoring (Top 5)
- Virginia Tech — 31
- Virginia — 51
- Wingate — 75
- Norfolk State — 112
- UMBC — 172
UP NEXT
The Spartans close the regular season and turn to championship racing at the MEAC Championships on Friday, Oct. 30, in Cary, N.C.
