FLORENCE, Ala. (August 17, 2023) – The weather conditions were near-perfect for the University of North Alabama cross country program this morning, as 27 Lions officially began their 2023 fall season on Thursday with a run through downtown Florence.
UNA Cross Country will begin a new era under first year head coach Evans Kiptoo, who joins the Lions staff following a successful stint at Northwest Kansas Technical College that produced a number of national champions and All-Americans in cross country and track & field.
"I'm very excited for the season to start today," said Kiptoo before practice began. "I know it's going to be a great season for UNA Cross Country. Today, we are going to start with stretches, and then after stretching we do our mobilities. After that, the men will do an eight-mile run and the women will do a six-mile run."
The morning began with stretches and a couple of laps at the Bill Jones Athletic Complex, followed by an extensive run from campus toward McFarland Park.
The Lions return a lot of experience on both teams, including 11 returning runners on the men's side and 10 on the women's side. Six incoming freshmen have been added to the mix this season, including a pair of men's runners and a quartet of women's runners.
Today's interviews include Coach Kiptoo, men's cross country graduate runner
Brandon Lee and women's cross country junior
Beth Ann Tucker.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
