DALLAS –  Jepkirui Kurgoi and Nelbat Kiprop Kirwa teamed up to take home the CUSA Female and Male Freshman of the Week awards following a successful outing at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala.

Kurgoi earned the CUSA Freshman of the Week honors after setting a new program record in the 5k for Jax State with a time of 17:21.06. Kurgoi took home 30^th place, helping the team finish 12^th out of 52 teams in the Southern Showcase.

Through two career meets, Kurgoi holds two of the top four spots in Jax State's program history in the 5k.

Kirwa placed 61st in this past weekend's Southern Showcase out of 349 athletes with a time of 24:48.68. Kirwa was the second Gamecock to cross the finish line, trailing just senior Jack Lowe.

With the help of Kirwa, Jax State managed a 10th place team finish out of 48 teams. His time is the 12th best 8K time in Jax State program history.

Jax State has earned five CUSA weekly awards through two meets so far this season, including four Freshman of the Week delegations.