Doris Lemngole is the queen of US collegiate athletics
Doris Lemngole racing in the Lausanne Diamond League women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland on August 20.
Steeplechase runner Doris Lemngole has become the first Kenyan to win the Bowerman Award, the highest honour in American collegiate track and field.
Lemngole, a student at the University of Alabama, was presented this year’s women’s award on Thursday at the Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Centre.
The Bowerman Award is given annually to the most outstanding male and female National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
University of Arkansas’ American sprinter, Jordan Anthony, bagged the men’s award.
The soft-spoken 23-year-old Lemngole, who hails from West Pokot County, beat her compatriot Pamela Kosgei from the University of New Mexico and Canadian Savannah Sutherland of the University of Michigan.
All three students were their school’s first-ever finalists for The Bowerman award.
Resilience
“I want to thank my coaches Nick and Dan because they have really supported me in training and pushed me to my limits, not forgetting my training mates, family, and Scholar Book, who made sure I got to where I am today,” said Lomngola in her acceptance speech. “Running has shaped who I am today, and I started running because I love the sport, and along the way, it has taught me resilience, patience, and confidence. Competing for the University of Alabama has been an honour, and I will forever be grateful. I’m deeply honoured to receive the award,” said Lemngole.
After winning the women’s 3,000m steeplechase collegiate title, Lemngole showed her talent by securing a place in Team Kenya for the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
She, however, failed in her bid to finish on the podium after falling in the last lap when she was well in contention. The race was won by Faith Cherotich, with Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi coming in second place.
Indoor games
This year, Lemngole won 5,000m and 10,000m NCAA titles for her institution at the indoor games held at the Virginia Beach Sports Centre in Virginia Beach, Virginia, before clinching the 3,000m steeplechase crown in a collegiate record of 8:58.15 at the outdoor track and field NCAA national championships in Eugene, Oregon.
She ended the year retaining her NCAA National Cross Country title at the Columbia, Missouri championships last month, beating Jane Hedegren from Brigham Young Universit,y as another Kenyan, Hilda Olemomoi, from the University of Florida finished third.
The award is named after the legendary Oregon coach Bill Bowerman and recognizes exceptional performance across indoor, outdoor track and field events, and cross country.
Anthony swept the NCAA titles in the 60 metres and 100 metres.
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