West Virginia Women, New Mexico Men Win Nuttycombe

New Mexico's men and West Virginia's women won the team titles at Nuttycombe on Friday, and both individual races were decided by less than a second.

Colorado freshman Meshack Kipruto ran a patient race to win the men's 8K. He was 14th at 2K, 10th at 4K and fourth at 6K, then closed his last 2K in 5:35, the fastest of anyone up front, to win in 22:30.1. New Mexico freshman Pasanjo Kitonga, who was leading at 6K, was seven-tenths back in 22:30.8. Louisville's Elsingi Kipruto (22:31.1) and Wake Forest's Rocky Hansen (22:31.4) were right there in third and fourth.

The women's finish was even tighter. Florida's Judy Chepkoech moved from sixth at 2K to second at 4K and won in 19:19.5. Iowa State's Betty Kipkore came from a long way back, 44th at 2K and 15th at 4K, and her last 2K was the fastest of anyone in the top 10. She ran Chepkoech down to a tenth of a second, finishing in 19:19.6. New Mexico's Mercy Kirarei, who led at both 2K and 4K, was third in 19:21.8.