MACON, Ga. – The Benedict College women's cross country team won the 2022 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cricket Championship, claiming the title for the first time since 2014.
 
The Lady Tigers have finished second in the championship for five of the past six years with a third place finish last year, but were able to take the top spot thanks to placing four runners in the top five.
 
Benedict won the meet with a score of 26, while Albany State was second with 69 points. Spring Hill, the three-time defending champions, finished third with 72 points.
 
Purity Kibet finished second overall behind Savannah State's Kayla Chance. Kibet covered the 5K course in a time of 19:36.43. Megan Thompson was third with a time of 19:42.82, followed by Jane Kiborus in fourth with a time of 19:45.39, and Floma Okumu in fifth with a time of 20:18.73. Cavel Barnett was Benedict's other scoring finisher, coming in 12^th with a time of 21:56.78. Also competing for the Lady Tigers were Torriann Noad, who finished 16^th with a time of 22:34.88, and Lydia Kosgei, who finished 24^th with a time of 23:59.36.
 
Coach Frank Hyland was named the SIAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
 
The NCAA South Region meet will take place on Nov. 19 in Lakeland, Fla.