Sioux Falls, SD -- Missouri Southern sophomore distance runner Vincent Kiprop repeated as Regional Champ and the Lions finished second as a team, qualifying for Nationals at the 2016 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships today. 

Kiprop traversed the 10k course in a time of 29:33.61 to take the title by 1:23 over the second place runner. It is the fifth title of the year for the Kenyan as he has won every meet he has run in this year. 

Four Lions in total earned All-Region honors at the meet. Tyler Rush finished seventh in a time of 31:24.69, while Cristobal Renteria was 12th in a time of 31:31.07. Cody Berry (31:53.76) was 22nd and he, along with Rush, Renteria and Kiprop earned All-Region honors. 

Mike Shanahan was 26th in a time of 32:05.33, just missing out on All-Region honors. Nickson Kiptoo was 32nd in a time of 32:15.59, while Jared Haltom was 62nd in a time of 32:50.49. 

The Lions, as a team, placed second, just three points behind Augustana for the Regional Championship. Augustana took the title, while Northwest Missouri was third and Minnesota State - Moorhead placed fourth. All four teams earned bids to the NCAA Division II National Meet on November 19 in Saint Leo, Fla. 

Washburn's Jacob Klemz, as well as Nebraska-Kearney's Andrew Field and Jahn Landrigan all earned bids as the top individual finishers not on an advancing team. 

The Lions will be back in action on November 19, participating in the National Championships hosted by Saint Leo University.