Judy Chepkoech of Florida won the women's race at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday in 19:19.5, edging Iowa State's Betty Kipkore by one-tenth of a second. Kipkore, who ran 19:19.6, had begun to celebrate before Chepkoech caught her close to the line in a finish that decided one of the most dramatic college cross-country races of the autumn so far.
Mercy Kirarei of New Mexico was third in 19:21.8, with Purity Chepkirui of Toledo fourth (19:22.3) and Joy Naukot of West Virginia fifth (19:22.6) on the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison. The women's 6K was packed at the front, with the first five separated by just three seconds.
West Virginia won the women's team title with 66 points, placing five runners in the top 25 despite going into the meet ranked ninth. Florida was second with 111, Northern Arizona third with 130, New Mexico fourth with 157 and Colorado fifth with 166.
In the men's 8K, Meshack Kipruto of Colorado won in 22:30.1 after a late breakaway. Pasanjo Kitonga of New Mexico was second in 22:30.8, Elsingi Kipruto of Louisville third in 22:31.1, Rocky Hansen of Wake Forest fourth in 22:31.4 and Tayvon Kitchen of BYU fifth in 22:37.3, so the top four finished within a single second.
New Mexico, ranked first in the country, lived up to billing by winning the men's team title with 59 points. Colorado was second with 93, ahead of BYU on 146, Arkansas on 208 and Florida on 221. With conference championships and the NCAA regionals still to come, Nuttycombe has set up a crowded race for the national title in November.