Tallahassee, Fla. – Texas State's Kwanele Mthembu competed as an individual at the 2021 NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Apalachee Regional Park. Mthembu completed the 10-kilometer course in a time of 30:37.8.
 
Conner Mantz of BYU was the NCAA individual medalist with a time of 28:33.1, and Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State was the silver medalist with a time of 28:38.7. Thanas Kicko of Campbell finished third in 28:40.9.
 
Mthembu finished second overall and a member of the All-Regional Team at the 2021 NCAA Division I South Central Regional Cross Country Championships after completing the 10-kilometer course at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course with a time of 30:11.1.
 
He entered the NCAA Championships with three top-five finishes this season. He was named the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer-of-the-Year and a First-Team All-Sun Belt selection after placing third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships and fifth in the John McDonnell Memorial Race at the Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival.