BELLINGHAM, Wash.  – The Trinity Western Spartans mens cross-country team finished first for the first time in program history at the WWU Padden Invitational. Fourth-year Justin Kibet Kiplagat (Nairobi, Kenya) finished first with a time of 24:35.80. Fifth-year David Mutai (Eldoret, Kenya) followed, finishing second with a time of 24:52.80. Third-year Elijah Headley (Maple Ridge, BC) placed fifth with a time of 25:10.30.
 
The Spartans finished first with 30 points. Western Washington followed with 37 points.
 
QUOTABLE
Shane Wiebe, TWU Head Coach 
"For the mens team, this is our first team win since I have been the head coach. Justin and David placed 1st and 2nd in the race. We had a bunch of other great performances on a much hillier course than they have experienced this season. Kate and Nelle both had big PB performances on our women's team. They both raced faster on this hilly course than they did on the flat course three weeks ago. Overall it was a pretty good day."
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans head to Lewiston, Idaho for the CCC Championships at LC State Cross Country Trail on Friday, November 6.
 
Men's Results | 8km
1st – Justin Kibet Kiplagat – 24:35.70
2nd – David Mutai – 24:52.80 
5th – Elijah Headley – 25:10.30
9th – Malcolm Reid – 25:24.00
13th – Arjun Sandhu – 25:40.60
15th – Noah Louwerse – 25:50.50
20th – Lucien Dixon-Lawless – 26:05.80
41st – Aven Kifle – 27:15.90
43rd – Joshua Chiu – 28:14.90
45th – Kenton Bell – 28:19.90
47th – Larson Rische – 28:43.20
 
Women's Results | 6km
20th – Catherine Roper – 23:21.80
25th – Nelle Liefsoens – 23:39.20
32nd – Hadassah Duff – 24:34.90
34th – Ava Gauthier – 24:40.20
35th – Livia Armitage – 25:35.80
37th – Janaya Sandhu – 25:54.50 
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others. 
 
-TW-