Upcoming Event: Cross Country at Gans Creek Classic (Women) on September 26, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. CT
8:15 a.m. CT
Cross Country
at Gans Creek Classic (Women)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Friday, November 15
Peoria, Ill.
(W) 11 a.m CT.; (M) Noon CT
University of Oklahoma
at
NCAA Midwest Regional
Jeruto Wins NCAA Midwest Regional, Cheruiyot Named All-Region
November 15, 2024 | Cross Country
PEORIA, Ill. – Freshman Leah Jeruto made history as the first OU woman to claim the modern NCAA Midwest Regional title and freshman Thobias Cheruiyot secured eighth at the Newman Golf Course on Friday evening. Both runners qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships set for Saturday, Nov. 23 in Madison, Wis.
Closing out the season for the teams, the women took seventh in the 6K with 222 points and the men secured 11th in the 10K with 300 points. Both results mark the best team finishes since 2016.
Jeruto and Minnesota junior Ali Weimer ran neck-and-neck for a majority of the race, but the Sooner surged ahead in the final 200 meters to secure the title. Jeruto posted a time of 19:45.9 for All-Region honors and solidified her entry to the national championships in Madison, Wis.
Cheruiyot bolted in front of the pack and held a 10-second lead from the 3K mark until he was passed by Oklahoma State's Laban Kipkemboi at the 7K mark. Cheruiyot would gradually slow his pace before ultimately grabbing eighth with a time of 29:18.41. His finish is the best by an OU men's runner since Dylan Blankenbaker in 2016 and earns him an All-Region award.
Jeruto and Cheruiyot will be officially announced as qualifiers for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on the selection show Saturday, Nov. 16 airing live on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. CT.
Results from the NCAA Midwest Regional are available via ShaZam Racing.
OU INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS
Women's 6K – 7th – 222 points
1st - Leah Jeruto (19:42.9)
39th - Megan Johnson (20:46.3)
41st – Abby Jepchirchir (20:47.3)
46th – Gabi Barrera (20:50.1)
95th – Sophie Coughlin (21:27.9)
99th - Peyton McQuillan (21:32.7)
143rd – Kiera Snyder (22:13.7)
Men's 10K – 11th – 300 points
8th - Thobias Cheruiyot (29:18.5)
48th – Jack Vincent (30:37.9)
56th – Fernando Morales (30:42.1)
87th – Daniel Nickell Jr. (31:06.3)
108th – Colin Caso (31:25.6)
144th – Logan Seger (32:11.0)
166th – Peter Makuei (32:43.4)
CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS
For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.
Closing out the season for the teams, the women took seventh in the 6K with 222 points and the men secured 11th in the 10K with 300 points. Both results mark the best team finishes since 2016.
Jeruto and Minnesota junior Ali Weimer ran neck-and-neck for a majority of the race, but the Sooner surged ahead in the final 200 meters to secure the title. Jeruto posted a time of 19:45.9 for All-Region honors and solidified her entry to the national championships in Madison, Wis.
Cheruiyot bolted in front of the pack and held a 10-second lead from the 3K mark until he was passed by Oklahoma State's Laban Kipkemboi at the 7K mark. Cheruiyot would gradually slow his pace before ultimately grabbing eighth with a time of 29:18.41. His finish is the best by an OU men's runner since Dylan Blankenbaker in 2016 and earns him an All-Region award.
Jeruto and Cheruiyot will be officially announced as qualifiers for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on the selection show Saturday, Nov. 16 airing live on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. CT.
Results from the NCAA Midwest Regional are available via ShaZam Racing.
OU INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS
Women's 6K – 7th – 222 points
1st - Leah Jeruto (19:42.9)
39th - Megan Johnson (20:46.3)
41st – Abby Jepchirchir (20:47.3)
46th – Gabi Barrera (20:50.1)
95th – Sophie Coughlin (21:27.9)
99th - Peyton McQuillan (21:32.7)
143rd – Kiera Snyder (22:13.7)
Men's 10K – 11th – 300 points
8th - Thobias Cheruiyot (29:18.5)
48th – Jack Vincent (30:37.9)
56th – Fernando Morales (30:42.1)
87th – Daniel Nickell Jr. (31:06.3)
108th – Colin Caso (31:25.6)
144th – Logan Seger (32:11.0)
166th – Peter Makuei (32:43.4)
CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS
For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.
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