CORVALLIS, Ore. – Trinity Western University men's cross country has been named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Team of the Week after capturing its first-ever CCC Men's Cross Country Championship Friday at the Lewis-Clark State College Cross Country Trail in Lewiston, Idaho. The Spartans made history in just their second season as conference members, claiming the team title with 57 points.
Trinity Western placed five runners in the top 19 to hold off Southern Oregon University by nine points. The Spartans finished with a team average of 24:41.1 over the 8K course, securing their first conference championship since winning the Canada West title in 2016.
Justin Kiplagat led the way, capturing the individual championship in 24:00.5 and finishing nearly 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up. David Mutai placed 10th in 24:47.2, followed by Arjun Sandhu in 12th (24:49.2), Elijah Headley in 15th (24:51.7) and Malcolm Reid in 19th (24:56.5). Kiplagat, Mutai, Sandhu and Headley each earned All-Conference honors.
The victory also continued a strong start to the Spartans' time in the CCC, as a Trinity Western runner has claimed the men's individual championship in each of the program's first two seasons in the conference. Kiplagat follows former Spartan Yemane Mulugeta, who won the title in 2025.
Head coach Shane Wiebe was named CCC Men's Coach of the Year after leading the Spartans to the historic team championship. Trinity Western will now prepare for the NAIA Cross Country National Championships, scheduled for Nov. 20 in Vancouver, Washington.