MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama cross country sophomore Andonet Cheruiyot picked up her second consecutive win this season, while the Jaguar men and women won team titles at the Azalea City Classic held Friday at the Brookley Golf Course. 

Cheruiyot posted a time of 18:31.9, her best of the season. Carolien Millenaar's 18:44.5 time earned her the runner-up spot in her first race of the season. Silje Lindstad finished fifth with a time of 19:41.6. The women's team scored a total of 27 points to earn the team title over second-place Troy (44). Thomas Sand Nielsen and Warno Potgieter finished second and third in the men's 8k with times of 26:48.6 and 26:54.1, respectively. Nate Pudner, Ben Rolader, and Migael Strydom also earned top-10 finishes to help the Jaguars score 29 points, a 13-point victory over runner-up Troy (42). 

Date: 9/7
Meet: Azalea City Classic 
Host Institution: South Alabama
Place: Brookley Golf Course (Mobile, Ala.)

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS
WOMEN – 5K
1. Andonet Cheruiyot, South Alabama (18:31.9); 2. Carolien Millenaar, South Alabama (18:44.5); 3. Arina Kleshchukova, New Orleans (19:22.7); 4. Caroline Sall, Troy (19:28.6); 5. Silje Lindstad, South Alabama (19:41.6); 6. Mariyah Archibald, Alabama State (19:52.4); 7. Kara Coulter, Troy (20:04.0); 8. Susanna Pudner, South Alabama (20:16.2); 9. Michaela Ashley, Troy (20:30.3); 10. Savannah Olyniec, Marion Military Institute (20:35.6) 

MEN – 8K
1. Brackin Stewart, Troy (26:32.9); 2. Thomas Sand Nielsen, South Alabama (26:48.6); 3. Warno Potgieter, South Alabama (26:54.1); 4. Elias Kete, ULM (27:05.3); 5. Sawyer Sprung, Troy (27:10.6); 6. Nate Pudner, South Alabama (27:16.1); 7. Daniel Glick, Troy (27:38.7); 8. Ben Rolader, South Alabama (27:54.9); 9. Nicholas Phillips, New Orleans (28:05.3); 10. Migael Strydom, South Alabama (28:10.8) 

TEAM FINISHES
WOMEN – 5K
1. South Alabama (27 pts); 2. Troy (44 pts); 3. Spring Hill (111 pts); 4. Alabama State (114 pts); 5. Southern (141 pts); 6. Mobile (145 pts); 7. New Orleans (157 pts)

MEN – 8K**
1. South Alabama (29 pts); 2. Troy (42 pts); 3. New Orleans (91 pts); 4. Southern (111 pts); 5. ULM (127 pts); 6. Mobile (133 pts); 7. Spring Hill (161 pts); 8. Marion Military Institute (213 pts)

**Men's team finishes subject to change; current results are unofficial and will be updated as necessary.

SOUTH ALABAMA INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
WOMEN – 5K
1. Andonet Cheruiyot, (18:31.9); 2. Carolien Millenaar, (18:44.5); 5. Silje Lindstad, (19:41.6); 8. Susanna Pudner, (20:16.2); 12. Kailee Kiminski, (20:58.9); 13. Gillianne Sharp, (21.04.0); 23. Shay Lee, (22:01.9); 24. Lindsay Scifers, (22:32.0); 26. Katelyn Cowie, (22:41.7); 27. Anna McGowan, (22:52.7); 38. Cindy von Ahlefeldt (25:22.9)

MEN – 8K
2. Thomas Sand Nielsen, (26:48.6); 3. Warno Potgieter, (26:54.1); 6. Nate Pudner, (27:16.1); 8. Ben Rolader, (27:54.9); 10. Migael Strydom, (28:10.8); 14. Dylan Pausic, (28:56.2); 37. Larry Lombard, (31:34.9); 50. Korey Shively, (34:17.3) 

NOTES
- This is the second straight meet in Mobile for the Jaguars. The women's team won the 5k and the men's team placed second in the 5k at last week's Challenge of Champions at Langan Park.
- Cheruiyot transferred to South Alabama this year after competing at Auburn in the 2017-18 season. Prior to her USA debut and two consecutive victories, she had only one top-25 finish (24th at the Bulldog SEC Preview).  
- Carolien Millenaar, Warno Potgieter, Susanna Pudner, Ben Rolader and Migael Strydom each earned top-10 finishes in their first race of the 2018-19 season. 
- The Jaguar women had three of the top five finishers; the men took five of the top 10 spots.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Parker Cowles
- On the performances from both teams: "I thought both teams really executed well today. We put our varsity runners back in and I thought it was pretty encouraging to see how we shook out as a team on both sides with team wins. They were patient in really tough course conditions. They got off to a controlled start and then moved and passed a lot of people over the last half of the race. That's really what we need both today and at the Sun Belt Conference meet, learning how to execute and race well. I was happy with that."
- On Andonet Cheruiyot's second consecutive victory: "Andonet obviously is a huge addition to the team. It was really exciting to see her get a win in a much bigger and stronger field. I'm excited to see where she goes from here." 
- On advantages to hosting the Sun Belt Conference meet at this course: "This was our second time on the course. We've actually got a few more workouts planned out here. Just being familiar with the course is a big advantage. We know exactly where we'll be at in a race. It's a little bit easier to break it down and approach a race mentally when you know the course well. The goal is to be out here enough working out that we're very comfortable here and have a very good feel for the course."

Andonet Cheruiyot
- On her race strategy and beginning her USA career with back-to-back victories: "I just went in and tried to have fun and win. I'm really excited to start my career at South. I wanted to win this and I want to win the conference with my teammates."

UP NEXT 
- South Alabama returns to action Sept. 22 at the 30th Annual Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. The men's 8k will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by the women's 5k at 10:20 a.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub

—USA—