Chelangat runs 32:13.13 to achieve fastest Division 1 effort this year, secure first crown for Crimson Tide since 1994, as older brother Kiprop earns third career championship, including first since 2018, to help Alabama win fourth straight title in event; Collegiate leaders Jonsson, Mardal and Obst also victorious

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The highlights came in package deals Thursday on the opening day of the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas.

And none were more significant than Alabama siblings Mercy Chelangat and Vincent Kiprop sweeping the 10,000-meter titles for the Crimson Tide.

On a day when Mississippi State took the top two spots in the men’s javelin throw, Florida’s Thomas Mardal repeated as hammer throw champion and the leading competitors in NCAA Division 1 in both the women’s javelin and heptathlon squared off, the schedule was capped by Chelangat running the fastest 10,000 by a collegiate female athlete this year and Kiprop securing his third career SEC title and first since 2018.

Chelangat clocked 32 minutes, 13.13 seconds to elevate to No. 21 all-time in NCAA history, in addition to securing the first championship in the event for Alabama since 1994. She also eclipsed the 2013 meet record by 85 seconds to ascend to No. 40 in the world this year and finish more than a minute ahead of Arkansas’ Katie Izzo (33:17.52).

Kiprop, who swept the 5,000 and 10,000 titles at the 2018 conference final, clocked 28:55.56 to prevail against a trio of Arkansas athletes, led by runner-up Gilbert Boit (29:10.98).

Kiprop’s victory was the fourth in a row for Alabama in the men’s 10,000, including Alfred Chelanga in 2017 and Gilbert Kigen in 2019.

Kiprop ran 28:23.60 on March 26 at the Raleigh Relays and ranks No. 9 among collegiate competitors this season.

Mississippi State continued its impressive run in the men’s javelin, with the Icelandic tandem of DJ Jonsson and Sindri Gudmundsson securing first and second, as the Bulldogs captured their third consecutive championship, following back-to-back victories by Anderson Peters in 2018-19.

Jonsson produced a personal-best 258-1 (78.66m) in the fifth round to take over as the collegiate competitor, surpassing previous leader Gudmundsson, who achieved a throw of 254 feet (77.42m) in the third round.

Both athletes surpassed the facility record of 239-9 (73.09m) established in 2019 by Texas A&M’s Sam Hardin.

In a matchup of the top two collegiate competitors this season, Georgia’s Marie-Therese Obst opened the women’s javelin competition with a throw of 187-11 (57.29m) to secure the Bulldogs’ first title since 2012.

Auburn’s Kylee Carter achieved a second-round throw of 184-6 (56.24m), but was unable to defend her championship from 2019.

Mardal secured back-to-back hammer throw titles with a second-round effort of 245-4 (74.78m). He remains the Division 1 leader at 249-11 (76.18m).

Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens, bolstered by a 6-4.75 (1.95m) clearance in the high jump, took the lead following the opening day of the heptathlon with 3,920 points. Georgia’s Anna Hall is in second place with 3,724 points.

Kyle Garland of Georgia built a significant advantage on the first day of the decathlon with 4,377 points, highlighted by a personal-best 24-10.50 (7.58m) long jump.