Razorbacks extend women’s championship streak to eight years in a row, collect 21st crown overall, with men breaking a tie with Tennessee for most overall titles with 26 in past 30 years; Chelangat, Romo both first-time winners

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it was the most all-time men’s championships in Southeastern Conference history or the longest streak of women’s titles, the team spotlight belonged to Arkansas on Friday at the LSU University Club in Baton Rouge.

Even with Mario Garcia Romo leading a sweep of the top three individual spots in the 5-mile race for Ole Miss, the Razorbacks countered with their scorers finishing fifth through ninth to capture their first men’s team championship since 2017 with a 35-59 victory over the Rebels.

It marked the 26th title in 30 years for Arkansas, which broke a tie with Tennessee for most men’s championships in conference history. The Volunteers last won a team title in 1990.

Alabama had three athletes place in the top six – including champion Mercy Chelangat – in the women’s 6-kilometer competition, it wasn’t enough to overcome Arkansas having seven athletes all finishing in the top 16, as the Razorbacks extended their dynasty to eight years in a row with a 41-57 victory over the Crimson Tide.

RESULTS

Chelangat clocked 19 minutes, 46.5 seconds to become the first Alabama female athlete since 1993 and fourth in program history to capture the individual title, with Esther Gitahi (20:10.5) finishing fifth and Jami Reed (20:11.4) securing sixth for the Crimson Tide.

Lauren Gregory (20:06.6) was fourth, Logan Morris (20:14.8) placed seventh, Abby Gray (20:19.9) took ninth and Taylor Ewert earned conference freshman of the year honors by finishing 10th for Arkansas in 20:21.6.

Krissy Gear (20:28.8) secured 11th, with Meghan Underwood and Corie Smith both being timed in 20:38.5 to place 15th and 16th for the Razorbacks, who achieved a conference record 21st women’s championship.

Kentucky’s Jenna Gearing (19:58) and Missouri’s Sarah Chapman (19:58.9) were second and third, joining Chelangat as the only athletes to produce sub-20 performances.

Ole Miss edged Kentucky for third place by a 97-98 margin.

Romo clocked 23:32.9 to become the first men’s individual winner for the Rebels since Barnabus Kirui captured his third career conference title in 2010.

Cole Bullock and Waleed Suliman were both timed in 23:34.3 to take second and third for Ole Miss, but the Rebels didn’t have another athlete place in the top 20 and couldn’t extend their championship streak to three years in a row.

Arkansas offset the talented trio for Ole Miss with Amon Kemboi (23:47.3) in fifth, Luke Meade (23:48.2) taking sixth, Jacob McLeod (23:51.3) securing seventh, Emmanuel Cheboson (24:00.8) earning eighth and Matt Young (24:03.9) placing ninth. Similar to the women’s race, the Razorbacks demonstrated their depth with seven athletes in the top 16.

Missouri senior Kieran Wood was fourth in 23:37.2, with Georgia’s Sam Bowers (24:13.1) rounding out the top 10, helping the Bulldogs take third over Tennessee by a 121-123 margin. Kentucky’s Matt Duvall was the conference’s top freshman, finishing 15th in 24:27.1 for the fifth-place Wildcats (133 points).