Friday, September 18
Huntsville, Ala.
8:10 a.m.
Mississippi State
at
Southern Showcase
Photo by: Reily Rogers
Kemboi Runs Third-Fastest 5k In MSU History To Open Season
September 18, 2026 | Cross Country
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.ย โย Mississippi State cross country finished fifth in its season opener at the Southern Showcase hosted by Jacksonville State.
The Bulldogs were led by Milicent Kemboi, who finished 11th while recording the third-fastestย 5k in MSU women's cross country history. She clocked in at 16:47.7, just a second shy of Naomi Jepleting's second-fastest time, which was set on the same course last year. Jepleting also finished in the top 20, crossing the line at 17:11.6 to place 16th.ย
Freshman Larkin Johnson finished third amongst the Bulldogs in her collegiate debut with a time of 17:43.6, while veteran Kaitlyn Burge crossed the line just after her with a personal-best time of 17:44.2.ย Brooklyn Quanz rounded out State's top five with a time of 17:53.9.ย
Mallory Streetman, Lillian Overby and Sophie Santucci rounded out MSU's runners. Overby made her collegiate debut, finishing in 18:30.4, while Santucci recorded a new personal best at 19:10.6.ย
Mississippi State runs next at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. CT.ย
For more information on the Bulldog track and field program, follow onย X,ย Facebookย andย Instagramย byย searching "HailStateTF."
ย
The Bulldogs were led by Milicent Kemboi, who finished 11th while recording the third-fastestย 5k in MSU women's cross country history. She clocked in at 16:47.7, just a second shy of Naomi Jepleting's second-fastest time, which was set on the same course last year. Jepleting also finished in the top 20, crossing the line at 17:11.6 to place 16th.ย
Freshman Larkin Johnson finished third amongst the Bulldogs in her collegiate debut with a time of 17:43.6, while veteran Kaitlyn Burge crossed the line just after her with a personal-best time of 17:44.2.ย Brooklyn Quanz rounded out State's top five with a time of 17:53.9.ย
Mallory Streetman, Lillian Overby and Sophie Santucci rounded out MSU's runners. Overby made her collegiate debut, finishing in 18:30.4, while Santucci recorded a new personal best at 19:10.6.ย
Mississippi State runs next at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. CT.ย
For more information on the Bulldog track and field program, follow onย X,ย Facebookย andย Instagramย byย searching "HailStateTF."
ย
Players Mentioned
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/ Cross Country
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