Brookville, N.Y. – The NYIT women’s cross country team placed the top three runners to capture their first ever East Coast Conference championship, finishing in a first place tie with Queens College this afternoon, held at C.W. Post. Both teams accumulated 50 points, marking the first time in conference history that two women’s teams shared the ECC title.  The men, bolstered with the top two finishing times, placed third in the championship race.

Freshman Jeptui Cherutich (Ravine, Kenya) led the way for the women, while Jackline Toek (Eldama Ravine, Kenya) finished second with a time of 19:29.50 and Yvonne Boinett (Eldoret, Kenya) was third, crossing the finish at 19:41.30.  Priscah Kiprop (Eldoret, Kenya) and Leslie Waller (Bel Air, Md.) rounded out the Bears top five.

Cherutich garnered both Runner of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors as she led all runners, covering the 5K course in 18:42.00.  Cherutich was a five-time ECC Rookie of the Week selection this season and currently holds the NYIT women’s 5K record with a personal best time of 17:42.6. Cherutich, Toek and Boinett all earned ECC All-Conference First Team honors.

NYIT head coaches Valmore Holt and Greg Welch of Queens were declared ECC Women’s Cross Country Co-Coaches of the Year. 

On the men’s side, sophomore Nicholas Koiyet (Eldoret, Kenya) was named Runner of the Year after capturing a first place finish.  Koiyet paced the men with a time of 27:11.80. Freshman Daniel Rono (Eldoret, Kenya) earned Rookie of the Year honors after finishing just 1.4 seconds behind teammate Koiyet.  Rono finished with a time of 27:13.20 and was a four-time ECC Rookie of the Week pick this year.  Koiyet, Rono and sophomore Moath Al Kawaldeh, who finished fourth with a time of 28:23.9, all earned ECC All-Conference First Team honors.

Host C.W. Post claimed their first men’s title since 2006, finishing with 44 points.

The men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.