Oklahoma City University boasted of both the individual national champion and the individual runner-up for the third consecutive year in the NAIA men’s cross country championships Friday at Apalachee Regional Park.
The Stars’ Abraham Chelangam crossed the finish line in first place, while Shimales Abebe took the second spot in the national meet. Chelangam gave OCU the individual champ for the fourth year running and fifth time in six years.
Fifth-ranked Oklahoma City earned a sixth-place team finish with 218 points. The Stars extended their string of top-10 finishes to 10 consecutive years. Third-rated Dordt (Iowa) won its first national title. OCU has won the national crown five times (2013, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’19).
Chelangam, a freshman from Kampala, Uganda, posted the top time of 23 minutes, 41.9 seconds in the 8,000-meter run. Chelangam covered the third 1,000 meters in 2:33.7. He surpassed his previous best time of 24:03.9 in the Chile Pepper Festival on Sept. 30 in Fayetteville, Ark. Chelangam joined OCU’s previous individual national champions Mark Shaw (2017 and ’19) and Zouhair Talbi (2020-21, ’21).
Abebe, a junior from Los Angeles, became three-time individual runner-up with his mark of 24:03.9. He also had his best split time in the third segment of the race (2:37.1). Abebe beat his personal record of 24:05.5 achieved in the NAIA Championships on April 9, 2021 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
OCU’s next finisher was Brendan Robeaux, who placed 87th. Robeaux, a sophomore from Mustang, Okla., turned in a time of 25:24.8. David Boulanger clocked a mark of 25:25.6, while Halen Biggs recorded a 25:26.6 for the Stars.
Milan Todorovic of the Stars covered the distance in 25:30.8, and Joseph Engel finished in 25:53.1.
“Our men continued the streak of having the individual champion and runner-up with Abraham and Shimales,” OCU coach Frezer Legesse said. “We also had outstanding performances by our young runners Brendan, David and Halen. They ran an impressive race at their first national championship experience. We’re excited for their future.”
Runners competed in 40-degree temperatures under sunny skies.
“Both men and women had their best performance as a team this season,” Legesse said.
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