by Benny Benton
WINGATE, N.C. – Barton College senior Sharon Kiptoo completed her highly successful cross country career on Saturday with a top-25 finish in the 2017 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at the Wingate University Cross Country Facility.
Kiptoo placed 22nd in a field of 159 runners with a time of 23:26.27 to finish among the top 25 for the second straight season. Her time was nearly a minute and a half better than her 2015 regional appearance on the same course, and a minute better than her top-10 run on the Wingate layout earlier this year.
The Eldoret, Kenya, resident and three-time all-conference honoree was one of two seniors who finished their careers in the event. Judith Melly, also from Eldoret, Kenya, placed 136th with a mark of 28:26 in her first regional meet.
Also competing in regionals for the first time were sophomore Meghan Araldi and freshman Brooke Lonergan. Araldi finished 104th with a time of 26:21, and Lonergan placed 149th with a mark of 31:28.
Barton did not record a team score in the meet. Queens University won the event, followed by Anderson University and University of Mount Olive. Those three teams will advance to nationals.
