Wildcats Place Sixth and Seventh at the 2026 SEC Championships
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Kentucky Wildcats cross country team opened postseason competition today at the 2026 SEC Championships in Columbia, Mo. at the Gans Creek XC Course.
In the women’s 6k final, Kentucky placed sixth with 180 total points. That placement and point total are the team’s best finish on the women’s side since the 2022 conference championships.
For the fourth time this season, sophomore Ann Lemirisho led the Wildcats on the scoreboard, finishing fifth with a final time of 19:01.0. That finish also features as her fourth top five placement in 2026.
Doricah Minsari Isoe was the second Wildcat cross the finish line, placing 12th with a time of 19:16.3. Janet Jepkemboi Amimo, Lyric Olson and Madelyn McCartney rounded out the point-scorers for the Cats, finishing 28th, 65th and 81, respectively. Freshmen Lily Parke and Addy Abner were the final Wildcats to finish the race in 123rd and 130th.
In the men’s 8k race, the Wildcats finished seventh, totaling 199 points. Collins Kiprop Kipngok and Ed Bird once again finished atop the UK team leaderboard, placing 12th and 17th overall. They were followed by Eyan Turk in 43rd, Sami Hattab in 68th and Lincoln Herald in 73rd as the final point-scorers. Caden Miracle (80th), Aidan Norris (88th) and JT Hayes Jr. (100) rounded out the team’s scorecard.
The Wildcats’ 2026 postseason slate will continue on Nov. 13 at the NCAA Southeast Regional in a return trip to Terre Haute, Ind.
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SEC Championships Results
Women’s 6k: (6th, 180 points)
5. Ann Lemirisho – 19:01.0 (5 pts)
12. Doricah Minsari Isoe – 19:16.3 (12 pts)
28. Janet Jepkemboi Amimo – 19:53.9 (28 pts)
65. Lyric Olson – 20:41.4 (62 pts)
81. Madelyn McCartney – 21:02.1 (73 pts)
123. Lily Parke – 21:48.7
130. Addy Abner – 22:02.9
Men’s 8k: (7th, 199 points)
12. Collins Kiprop Kipngok – 22:43.3 (12 pts)
17. Ed Bird – 22:49.5 (17 pts)
43. Eyan Turk – 23:45.8 (42 pts)
68. Sami Hattab – 24:35.9 (62 pts)
73. Lincoln Herald – 24:44.4 (66 pts)
80. Caden Miracle – 25:00.9
88. Aidan Norris – 25:18.9
100. JT Hayes Jr. – 26:38.3
