Friday, September 18
Huntsville, Ala.
8K | 7:30 AM
Jax State
vs
Southern Showcase
Jax State Preps for Southern Showcase in Huntsville
9/17/2026 9:59:00 AM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
JACKSONVILLE – The Jax State Cross Country team continues its early season slate with a short trip to Huntsville, Ala. for the Southern Showcase on Friday morning to face off against some of the top collegiate programs in the Southeast. The men's 8k is set to begin at 7:30 AM, followed by the women's 5k at 8:10 AM.
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Amongst the competition in the Rocket City is multiple SEC and ACC opponents, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Mississippi State, along with some familiar foes in Delaware, North Alabama, Samford, South Alabama and West Georgia. In all, there will be 64 schools across 16 states participating in the meet.
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Jax State comes into Friday's contest with solid momentum after excellent team performances at the Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Ala. two weeks ago. In Oxford, the men's team managed to take home the team title against 16 other schools, while the women's squad placed runner-up to Auburn.
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The Gamecocks saw multiple impressive showings from its underclassmen runners as well, including a new women's school record in the 5k that was set by freshman Mercy Sergon as she ran a 17:08.7 to place No. 2 overall. Due to her efforts, Sergon was awarded Conference USA Women's Freshman of the Week for the opening week of the season. Trailing just behind her was sophomore Viola Jepleting who placed No. 3 overall with a time of 17:35.1 which is the eighth-fastest time in school history.
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On the men's side, Jax State dominated the leaderboard by placing nine of the top 15 overall finishers in the meet. The Gamecocks were led by freshman Shadrack Kipkurgat's 15:04.8 time which placed No. 2 overall and earned him a CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week award. Jax State had three other finishers in the top five as well, including Linus Chepkochei (3rd), Mark Roper (4th), and Miguel Del Rosario (5th).
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Last season at Southern Showcase, the men's team took home a 10th place finish overall, with the women's unit placing 12th. The 2025 rendition of the meet was highlighted by Faith Kurgoi's then program record in the 5k with a time of 17:21.06 to place No. 30 overall amongst 480 runners. A pair of Gamecocks earned CUSA weekly honors following the event, including Kurgoi who won CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week and Nelbat Kiprop Kirwa who won CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week.Â
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At Southern Showcase, the Gamecocks will get an early season glimpse of the postseason, as the Conference USA Championship meet will be taking place at the same course on October, 31. Last season, Jax State's men's and women's programs placed third and seventh in the meet, respectively.
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Following the weekend, the Gamecocks will have another week off before traveling to Douglasville, Ga. For the Georgia Tech Invitational on Oct. 2.
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Amongst the competition in the Rocket City is multiple SEC and ACC opponents, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Mississippi State, along with some familiar foes in Delaware, North Alabama, Samford, South Alabama and West Georgia. In all, there will be 64 schools across 16 states participating in the meet.
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Jax State comes into Friday's contest with solid momentum after excellent team performances at the Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Ala. two weeks ago. In Oxford, the men's team managed to take home the team title against 16 other schools, while the women's squad placed runner-up to Auburn.
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The Gamecocks saw multiple impressive showings from its underclassmen runners as well, including a new women's school record in the 5k that was set by freshman Mercy Sergon as she ran a 17:08.7 to place No. 2 overall. Due to her efforts, Sergon was awarded Conference USA Women's Freshman of the Week for the opening week of the season. Trailing just behind her was sophomore Viola Jepleting who placed No. 3 overall with a time of 17:35.1 which is the eighth-fastest time in school history.
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On the men's side, Jax State dominated the leaderboard by placing nine of the top 15 overall finishers in the meet. The Gamecocks were led by freshman Shadrack Kipkurgat's 15:04.8 time which placed No. 2 overall and earned him a CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week award. Jax State had three other finishers in the top five as well, including Linus Chepkochei (3rd), Mark Roper (4th), and Miguel Del Rosario (5th).
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Last season at Southern Showcase, the men's team took home a 10th place finish overall, with the women's unit placing 12th. The 2025 rendition of the meet was highlighted by Faith Kurgoi's then program record in the 5k with a time of 17:21.06 to place No. 30 overall amongst 480 runners. A pair of Gamecocks earned CUSA weekly honors following the event, including Kurgoi who won CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week and Nelbat Kiprop Kirwa who won CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week.Â
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At Southern Showcase, the Gamecocks will get an early season glimpse of the postseason, as the Conference USA Championship meet will be taking place at the same course on October, 31. Last season, Jax State's men's and women's programs placed third and seventh in the meet, respectively.
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Following the weekend, the Gamecocks will have another week off before traveling to Douglasville, Ga. For the Georgia Tech Invitational on Oct. 2.
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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