Sacramento, Calif. -- Missouri Southern sophomore Gidieon Kimutai finished fifth and the sixth-ranked Lions placed 14th as a team at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships today in Sacramento. 

Kimutai was in the lead pack from start to finish and had the lead with less than 1,000 meters to go in the race, but fell back to fifth as he crossed the 10k finish line in a time of 29:49.9. It is the second-straight top-five finish for the Kenyan as he placed fourth last year as a true freshman. 

Nickson Kiptoo was 45th in a time of 30:56.9, while Ryan Riddle placed 84th. Jarod Ozee was 162nd, while Cody Berry (199), Josh Webb (224) and Kevin Koester (241) helped the Lions to a top-20 team finish. 

Colorado Mines won the team title, followed by Adams State, Chico State, Grand Valley State and Northwest Missouri to round out the top five.