Liberty University's Samuel Chelanga, the winner of this summer's Alaska 10-K Classic, captured the NCAA cross country championship Monday, becoming the 10th man to repeat as the Division I champion.
Chelanga won the 10-kilometer race in Terre Haute, Ind., in 29 minutes, 22.2 seconds, beating Stephen Sambu of Arizona by 4.3 seconds.
Kodiak's Trevor Dunbar, a sophomore at Portland University, finished 25th in 30:20.1. Dunbar was one of eight region champions in the race, having claimed the West Region title Nov. 13 by nipping Sambu by less than a second.
Chelanga spent time in Anchorage this summer visiting teammate Ryan Cox, a Grace Christian graduate. He entered two races while here -- the 5-K Run for Relief, in which he slowed down near the end to let Cox win, and the Alaska 10-K Classic, which he won in 30:07.
Oklahoma State won its third men's team title Monday, while Villanova took its ninth women's championship, led by Sheila Reid, who won the 6-K in 20:06.9. Emily Infeld of Georgetown was second in 20:02.9 and Jordan Hasay of Oregon was third in 20:13.
Anchorage Daily News
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