LAKELAND, FL | Morehouse College senior
Brian Kemei turned in a strong performance at the NCAA Division II South Region Cross Country Championships, finishing 13th overall in the men's 10K race at Holloway Park on Saturday. Competing as the lone representative for Morehouse — and the only HBCU athlete in the field — Kemei came just five seconds shy of qualifying for the national championships.
Under clear, sunny conditions, Kemei clocked a time of 32:21.3, averaging 5:12 per mile. He covered the first mile in 4:58 and reached the 5K mark in 15:39, maintaining contact with the lead pack for much of the race before finishing just behind Christian Brothers' Basile Chevrel (12th, 32:15.2).
The meet featured a deep field of regional powerhouses, with Lee University (Tenn.) winning the team title with 24 points, followed by Florida Southern (53) and Embry-Riddle (110).
Kemei's 13th-place finish was the highest ever by a Morehouse runner at the NCAA South Region meet under head coach Willie Hill, capping an outstanding season that included multiple individual victories and an SIAC championship performance.
The effort concludes another milestone season for the Maroon Tigers, as Kemei closes his collegiate career as one of the most decorated runners in Morehouse history.
