LAKE CHARLES, La. – The 2026 Southland Conference Men’s Cross Country Championships wrapped up on Friday morning, as SFA claimed five of the top six individuals to pick up the conference crown. SFA freshman Eliud Kopkosgei set a new season-best time of 23:31.6 to take home the individual title, giving the Jacks three different winners in the last three seasons.
Teammates Paul Kiprotich (23:34.10), Ryan Binskin (23:34.94) and Lathan Lewter (23:38.17) followed Kopkosgei to help SFA land each of the top four. Saad Rifi Loutfi rounded out the scoring for the Jacks with a time of 23:48.57, giving SFA a team total of 16, the best mark in SLC history.
Ezra Chelimo of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi produced a mark of 23:44.66 to finish in fifth place and prevent SFA from turning in a perfect score. Fellow Islanders Diego Canto (23:58.82), Mathayo Bundotich (24:06.13) and Brendan DiStefano (24:07.46) picked up seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.
UIW’s Ethan Malesich (24:14.26) rounded out the top ten, edging out teammate Anthony Zapata (24:15.78) in the process. A trio of McNeese runners followed, as Gregory Martin (24:21.78), Diarmuid Moloney (24:24.99) and Ryan McCarthy (24:27.08) were the top three across the finish for the Cowboys.
To view the full list of results from Friday’s meet,
please click here.
Conference Awards
- Athlete of the Year: Eliud Kipkosgei, SFA
- Freshman of the Year: Eliud Kipkosgei, SFA
- Newcomer of the Year: Saad Rifi Loufti, SFA
- Coach of the Year: Robert Hansen, SFA
First-Team All-Conference
- Eliud Kipkosgei, SFA
- Paul Kiprotich, SFA
- Ryan Binskin, SFA
- Lathan Lewter, SFA
- Ezra Chelimo, TAMUCC
Second-Team All-Conference
- Saad Rifi Loutfi, SFA
- Diego Canto, TAMUCC
- Mathayo Bundotich, TAMUCC
- Brendan DiStefano, TAMUCC
- Ethan Malesich, UIW
Final Standings
- SFA (16)
- Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (53)
- McNeese (75)
- Incarnate Word (94)
- Lamar (146)
- Houston Christian (167)
- UTRGV (250)
- LSU New Orleans (268)
- East Texas A&M (281)
- Nicholls (298)
- Southeastern (303)
- Northwestern (305)