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Frosh Kelvin Cheruiyotâ€s training mates in Kenya included Oklahoma Stateâ€s Denis Kipngetich and Brian Musau but the Pre-Nats winner is an XC contender kitted in Gator colors. (SHAWN PRICE)

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, October 17 — With thunderstorms a strong possibility for Saturday, organizers moved the Pre-Nationals race to Friday, and the No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State men opted to race at home instead. That left the door open for unranked Georgia to steal the win from No. 19 Missouri and No. 24 Mississippi under sunny skies on the Gans Creek XC Course.

With three in the top 20 led by 9th-place Ryan Olreeâ€s 23:21.5, the Bulldogs totaled 119 points to convincingly better the host schoolâ€s 164 and Ole Missâ€s 178. No. 22-ranked Arkansas, not running its best, finished 8th with 270 points.

More telling than the team race was an individual battle among several athletes who may loom large on the nationals stage. Razorbacks Brian Masai and Timothy Chesondin pushed the pace early, but as Chesondin led past 5K in 14:09.7, Florida frosh Kelvin Cheruiyot moved into striking range, as did Wichita Stateâ€s Elkana Kipruto, the three breaking away from the main pack.

The strongest kick belonged to Cheruiyot, a 13:47.7 performer on the track (at altitude). He put away Kipruto on the final stretch as Chesondin lost ground to both. The Kenyan frosh clocked 22:44.6, more than 17 seconds faster than his collegiate debut in placing 16th on the same course last month. Kipruto ran 22:45.6 and Chesondin 22:49.7. Nearly 20 seconds back was 4th-placer Kidus Misgina of Mississippi in 23:08.8. Masai finished 6th in 23:11.6.

PRE-NATIONALS MENâ€S RESULTS

Teams: 1. Georgia 119; 2. Missouri 164; 3. Ole Miss 178; 4. Texas 183; 5. Loyola (ill.) 192; 6. Minnesota 257; 7. Wichita State 265; 8. Arkansas 270; 9. Purdue 291; 10. Florida 293.

Individuals (8K): 1. ***Kelvin Cheruiyot’ (Fl-Ken) 22:44.6; 2. **Elkana Kipruto’ (Wich-Ken) 22:45.6; 3. *Timothy Chesondin’ (Ar-Ken) 22:49.7; 4. *Kidus Misgina (Ms) 23:08.8; 5. Chandler Gibbens (Saucony) 23:10.5; 6. *Brian Masai’ (Ar-Ken) 23:11.6; 7. -Jacob White (Wy) 23:12.2; 8. Cody Larson (SDSt) 23:17.9; 9. *Ryan Olree (Ga) 23:21.5; 10. William Sinclair (Loyola) 23:22.6;

11. Toby Gillen’ (Ms-Aus) 23:23.4; 12. Drew Rogers (Mo) 23:24.7; 13. **Collins Kiprop Kipngok’ (Ky-Ken) 23:24.9; 14. ***Elijah Limo’ (Mo-Ken) 23:25.8; 15. Will Aitken (Ga) 23:28.3; 16. *Edward Bird’ (Ky-GB) 23:29.7; 17. Owen Smith (MtSt) 23:32.3; 18. Adrian Diaz-Lopez’ (Wich-Spa) 23:35.7; 19. *Conner Rutherford (Ga) 23:37.3; 20. Mathis Chavand’ (Wy-Fra) 23:43.6;

21. *Sam Ells (MtSt) 23:44.8; 22. ***Aidan Torres (Tx) 23:46.2; 23. *Isaac Hirshman-Chandler’ (FlSt-GB) 23:46.4; 24. Seth Babbel (IdSt) 23:46.4; 25. Ben Shearer (Ar) 23:47.5.

Jeff Hollobaugh is a writer and stat geek who has been associated with T&FN in various capacities since 1987. He is the author of How To Race The Mile. He lives in Michigan where he can often be found announcing track meets in bad weather.

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