(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 7)--Elkana Kipsang of McKendree University has been honored as the American Midwest Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for Sept. 6.

Kipsang, a junior from Eldoret, Kenya, topped a field of 209 runners by winning the individual title at Saturday's Washington University Early Bird Meet in St. Louis. Kipsang posted a winning time of 18:59 in the eight-kilometer race and took the race by nearly 15 seconds.

In 2009 Kipsang finished third in the AMC/Unaffiliated championships to earn All-Conference honors. He was also a key part of the Bearcats' NAIA national tournament qualifying squad.

OTHERS NOMINATED FOR AMC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK: Ryan Meyer of William Woods University