Austin, Texas - Junior Mathew Chesang and freshman Stefanie Murer earned all-conference honors when they placed in the top fifteen at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships held today. The pair led the Wildcats to a ninth-place finish on the men's side and a seventh-place finish for the women.

Chesang finished in the top-nine for the second consecutive year, crossing the line in fifth place with a time of 24:51.6. The fifth-place finish is the highest of his career at the championships after finishing ninth last season.

Rogers Kipchumba, who was unable to run last season at the conference meet, had a strong showing with a 25th-place finish in a time of 25:40.0.

Other Wildcats to score points on the men's side were Joe Moore (71st, 27:25.4), Christian Smith (77th, 27:47.8) and Erik Sproll (79th, 27:53.6).

On the women's side, Murer, who was running in her first conference meet, crossed the finish line in a time of 21:43 to finish fifth. Murer's fifth-place finish was the highest of any freshman at the meet and was the highest Wildcat finish since Amy Mortimer finished third in 2001.

Junior Trisha Culbertson improved on last year's 30th place finish when her time of 22:23.1 earned her a16th place finish at the meet.

Lysaira Roman-Del Valle (44th, 23:32.0), Shauna Burrell (23:38.5) and Tina Todd (60th, 24:09.5) also scored points for the Wildcats.

The University of Colorado swept the championships, winning the team and individual titles at the meet. Dathan Ritzenhein won the men's title in a time of 24:11.8 while Natalie Florence won the women's title with a time of 21:25.6.

The Wildcats will return to action when they head to the Midwest Region Championships on Saturday, November 15, in Stillwater, Okla.

Final Results

Men's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 38 points; 2. Oklahoma State 91; 3. Texas A&M 119; 4. Kansas 135; 5. Baylor 141; 6. Texas 150; 7. Oklahoma 154; 8. Missouri 161; 9. Kansas State 231; 10. Texas Tech 252; 11. Iowa State 282; 12. Nebraska 341.

K-State Men’s Results: 5. Mathew Chesang - 24:51.6 25. Rogers Kipchumba - 25:40.0 71. Joe Moore - 27:25.4 77. Christian Smith - 27:47.8 79. Erik Sproll - 27:53.6 86. Trevor Smith - 28:27.5 87. Hiral Bhakta - 28:35.3 91. Ben Owen - 30:43.8

Women's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 45 points; 2. Baylor 76; 3. Missouri 88; 4.Texas Tech 117; 5. Texas 124; 6. Nebraska 149; 7.Kansas State 171; 8. Texas A&M 194; 9. Oklahoma 211; 10. Kansas 223; 11. Iowa State 310; 12. Oklahoma State 358.

K-State Women’s Results: 5. Stefanie Murer - 21:43.6 16. Trisha Culbertson - 22:23.1 44. Lysaira Roman-Del Valle - 23:32.0 48. Shauna Burrell - 23:38.5 60. Tina Todd - 24:09.5 82. Cate Holston - 25:54.1 92. Kelly Carlton - 28:17.