WVU Finishes Second at Big 12 Cross Country Championships

Saturday, October 31

Stillwater, Okla.

11:00 a.m.

West Virginia University

Big 12 Championships

Sheila Chepkirui competes at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships

October 31, 2026 01:18 PM | Cross Country

Final Results

By: Jaret Dyer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 3 West Virginia University cross country team earned a second-place finish at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Stillwater, Okla., totaling 63 points and placing three runners on the All-Big 12 team.

The Mountaineers steadily climbed the team standings throughout the women's 6,000-meter race, moving from sixth place at the opening split to second by the 3,000-meter mark, where they remained for the rest of the competition.

West Virginia sat in sixth place with 179 points at the 1,100-meter split before moving into third with 108 points at 2,100 meters. By the halfway point, the Mountaineers had secured second place behind BYU, which led with 29 points.

WVU continued to close the gap over the second half of the race. At the 4,000-meter mark, West Virginia had improved to 80 points, while BYU's total rose to 46. The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 12 points at 5,000 meters, trailing 66-54, before finishing just seven points behind the Cougars, 63-56.

Mercy Kinyanjui led the Mountaineers with a fifth-place finish, crossing the line in 19:42.7. Joy Naukot followed in seventh place with a time of 19:46.0, while Sheila Chepkirui finished 10th in 19:51.8. All three earned All-Big 12 honors for their top-15 finishes.

The selection marked Kinyanjui's second career All-Big 12 honor, while Naukot earned the distinction for the third time. Chepkirui collected her first career All-Big 12 honor.

Emily Bryce placed 20th with a time of 20:18.8, while Lexi Lamb rounded out West Virginia's scoring five in 21st at 20:27.3.

Anastasia Chepkorir followed in 40th place with a time of 21:05.1, while Chiara Judis finished 49th in 21:20.4. Chelsea Chepkemboi placed 61st in 21:52.0, followed by Alyssa Sauro in 63rd at 21:54.8.

"I am very proud of the team's race today," head coach Sean Cleary said. "While we did not get off the line very well, we did a tremendous job moving through the field to give ourselves a chance at the win over the final 400 meters.

"At this point in the year, the goal is always to stay on the right side of sickness and injury. We have had a difficult time in both areas since we raced at Nuttycombe, but the team stepped up tremendously today. All teams go through these setbacks throughout a season, and we hope ours are now behind us.

"From here, we will go home, recover and prepare for the final phase of training before resting for regionals and nationals."

West Virginia will return to action on Friday, Nov. 13, at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships in Bethlehem, Pa.

WVU Individual Results

5th – Mercy Kinyanjui – 19:42.7

7th – Joy Naukot – 19:46.0

10th – Sheila Chepkirui – 19:51.8

20th – Emily Bryce – 20:18.8

21st – Lexi Lamb – 20:27.3

40th – Anastasia Chepkorir – 21:05.1

49th – Chiara Judis – 21:20.4

61st – Chelsea Chepkemboi – 21:52.0

63rd – Alyssa Sauro – 21:54.8

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on X, Facebook and Instagram.