NORMAL — The Carl Sandburg College men’s cross country team swept the top three spots and placed second as a team at the Heartland Invitational on Friday at Maxwell Park, which featured several nationally ranked teams.
The Chargers, No. 6 in the most recent US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings, were led by Josphat Langat (Kenay/Alliance), who won the 8-kilometer race in 26:04.7. Freshman teammate Calton Kibet (Kenya/Poiywek Secondary) was runner-up in 26:09.6, and Emmanuel Kiprop (Kenya/Kericho TEA Boys’ Secondary) placed third in 26:37.6.
Sandburg finished second to host Heartland, the second-ranked team in NJCAA Division II, with 44 points. The Hawks totaled 33 points as their five scorers placed in the top nine.
The Chargers finished ahead of three teams that also came in nationally ranked DuPage (NJCAA Division III No. 2) was third with 89 points, Joliet (NJCAA Division III No. 1) was fourth with 95 and Kaskaskia (NJCAA Division II No. 23) was fifth with 132.
WOMEN’S RACE
Barbra Jepkirui’s (Kenya/St. Teresa Girls’ Secondary) paced the Chargers in the women’s 5K with a time of 21:35.6 for 15th place. Mary Njuguna (Kenya/Turbo Girls Secondary) also posted a top-20 time for Sandburg, coming in 19th with a time of 21:58.9
Sandburg, ranked 19th by the USTFCCCA, placed fifth behind four other ranked squads.
Get text/email notifications of Sandburg Athletics results
Follow @SandburgNJCAA on Twitter