CHARLOTTE, NC – For the second time this season, Hutchinson Community College cross country runners Titus Kiprotich and Mildred Rono have swept the NJCAA Division 1 Cross Country Runner of the Week awards following their school record performances at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri.  

Mildred Rono (Hutchinson) – NJCAA D1 Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Running the first 5K race of her collegiate career, Hutchinson Community College freshman cross country runner Mildred Rono set a Blue Dragon school record on Saturday at the Missouri Southern Stampede. The number 10-ranked Blue Dragons had only four runners competing on Saturday and didn't post a team score as HCC ran in its first 5,000-meter race of the season. Rono won her second race of the season, posting a winning time of 16:49.23 on Saturday morning to win the race by 11.41 seconds. Rono broke the Blue Dragon women's cross country 5K record, formerly held by Faith Jepchirchir at 16:55.33, set last season.

Titus Kiprotich (Hutchinson) – NJCAA D1 Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Blue Dragon sophomore Titus Kiprotich finished second at the Missouri Southern Stampede and broke the Blue Dragon 8K record in finishing second with a time of 23:30.40, breaking his own team record. He led three Blue Dragon runners in the Top 10 and led number four-ranked Hutchinson to its second team title in as many meets this season at the predominantly NCAA Division 2 meet.