Judy Chepkoech and Kelvin Cheruiyot Earn SEC Athletes of the Week Honors
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Cross Country
Judy Chepkoech and Kelvin Cheruiyot earn this honor following their performances at the John McNichols Invitational
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior Judy Chepkoech and Sophomore Kelvin Cheruiyot were both named SEC Athletes of the Week following their performances at the John McNichols Invtitational, the league office announced on Tuesday.
Chepkoech was named the SEC Women's Co-Runner of the Week and Cheruiyot was named the Men's Co-Runner of the Week.
On the women's side, Chepkoech led the Gators to a team finish of fifth with 156 points. Chepkoech finished third overall and first for the Gators in her first race of the season with a time of 19:30.8, a time that was two seconds off of the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course's record.
Cheruiyot finished first overall at the John McNichols Invitational with a time 23:20.7 and helped power the Men's team to a second place finish with 119 points. Cheruiyot continuously climbed during the race, crossing the 3K checkpoint at ninth and the 5K checkpoint at sixth. Cheruiyot, currently ranked at ninth on the FloTrack Division I Men's Individual rankings, beat the No. 1, No. 6, No. 12, No. 14, No. 32, and No. 39 runners in the race. Cheruiyot's performance helped the No. 21 Gators Men's Cross Country team outperformed eight teams ranked above them.
The Gators return to action on October 9th, as they head to Madison, Wis. for the Nuttycombe Invitational.
SEC Cross Country Weekly Honors (Sept. 22):
Men's Co-Runners of the Week:
Dismus Lokira, Alabama
Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Women's Co-Runners of the Week:
Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
Judy Chepkoech, Florida
Men's Freshman of the Week:
Rodgers Plimo, Alabama
Women's Freshman of the Week:
Faith Chelangat, Auburn
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Chepkoech was named the SEC Women's Co-Runner of the Week and Cheruiyot was named the Men's Co-Runner of the Week.
On the women's side, Chepkoech led the Gators to a team finish of fifth with 156 points. Chepkoech finished third overall and first for the Gators in her first race of the season with a time of 19:30.8, a time that was two seconds off of the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course's record.
Cheruiyot finished first overall at the John McNichols Invitational with a time 23:20.7 and helped power the Men's team to a second place finish with 119 points. Cheruiyot continuously climbed during the race, crossing the 3K checkpoint at ninth and the 5K checkpoint at sixth. Cheruiyot, currently ranked at ninth on the FloTrack Division I Men's Individual rankings, beat the No. 1, No. 6, No. 12, No. 14, No. 32, and No. 39 runners in the race. Cheruiyot's performance helped the No. 21 Gators Men's Cross Country team outperformed eight teams ranked above them.
The Gators return to action on October 9th, as they head to Madison, Wis. for the Nuttycombe Invitational.
SEC Cross Country Weekly Honors (Sept. 22):
Men's Co-Runners of the Week:
Dismus Lokira, Alabama
Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Women's Co-Runners of the Week:
Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
Judy Chepkoech, Florida
Men's Freshman of the Week:
Rodgers Plimo, Alabama
Women's Freshman of the Week:
Faith Chelangat, Auburn
FOLLOW THE GATORS
Instagram: @GatorsTF
X: @GatorsTF
#GoGators
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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