Jepleting, Kirwa Earn CUSA Freshmen of the Week Honors
10/21/2025 1:00:00 PM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
DALLAS – Following a team sweep of the Upstate Invitational, Jax State freshmen Viola Jepleting and Nelbat Kiprop Kirwa have been named the Conference USA Freshmen of the Week. Jax State has now secured 10 Conference USA Weekly awards this season.
Jepleting set a new personal best 5K time on the way to earning the individual championship at the Upstate Invitational. Along with her individual title, Jepleting led a Jax State team that won its first team championship of the season in Spartanburg.
Jepleting was the first Gamecock across the line with a time of 17:28.5, finishing ahead of teammates Mercy Jebet and Jepkirui Kurgoi who placed second and third respectively.
Kirwa placed ninth in the Upstate Invitational and clocked a time of 24:42.8 in the event, finishing as the second-best freshman at the meet. Kirwa helped the Gamecocks to their second team title of the season by earning his second career top ten finish in Spartanburg. Jax State finished the meet leading second place Western Carolina by 90 points.
The honor is Kirwa's third CUSA designation of the season, also earning CUSA Freshmen of the Week following the Southern Showcase and the Georgia Tech Invitational.
The Gamecocks look ahead to the Conference USA Championship on Nov. 1 in Huntsville, Ala. Jax State is also ranked in both the men's and women's USTFCCCA South Region Rankings jumping three spots to 12th in the men's poll and remaining at 15th in the women's rankings.
Jepleting set a new personal best 5K time on the way to earning the individual championship at the Upstate Invitational. Along with her individual title, Jepleting led a Jax State team that won its first team championship of the season in Spartanburg.
Jepleting was the first Gamecock across the line with a time of 17:28.5, finishing ahead of teammates Mercy Jebet and Jepkirui Kurgoi who placed second and third respectively.
Kirwa placed ninth in the Upstate Invitational and clocked a time of 24:42.8 in the event, finishing as the second-best freshman at the meet. Kirwa helped the Gamecocks to their second team title of the season by earning his second career top ten finish in Spartanburg. Jax State finished the meet leading second place Western Carolina by 90 points.
The honor is Kirwa's third CUSA designation of the season, also earning CUSA Freshmen of the Week following the Southern Showcase and the Georgia Tech Invitational.
The Gamecocks look ahead to the Conference USA Championship on Nov. 1 in Huntsville, Ala. Jax State is also ranked in both the men's and women's USTFCCCA South Region Rankings jumping three spots to 12th in the men's poll and remaining at 15th in the women's rankings.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Sunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, May 10
