Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui of the University of New Mexico was crowned the new 10,000m champion as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Championships started on Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The four-day, action-packed meet has brought together top university athletes from across the United States, all vying for national titles in various disciplines.
Kipkurui, a freshman, ran a tactical race—staying close to the leading pack before making a decisive surge in the final 200 meters to open a commanding gap and cross the line in 29:07.70.
His training and campus mate, Eritrean Habtom Samuel, finished second in 29:08.73, while Texas Tech University’s Ernest Cheruiyot claimed third in 29:10.37.
Rodgers Kiplimo, who is studying Kinesiology at Iowa State University (29:10.89), and Evans Kurui of Washington State University rounded off the top five.
Speaking after his victory, Kipkurui said the race was demanding, but his strategy paid off.
“I’m so happy to have bagged the NCAA title, and it has been a journey getting where I am now. I had to be smarter, and my target was to win the race, and it worked for me ... as you can see, we had many competitive athletes, especially from Kenya, from the other universities,” Kipkurui, who is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science, said.
He added that he’s not resting on his laurels, with another key race coming up in two weeks where he hopes to secure a place on Kenya’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, this September.
The Kenyan team for the 10,000m event will be selected during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet—also at Hayward Field—giving Kipkurui what he described as a “home track” advantage.
“My target now is to make the national team, and I'm happy the trials shall be held in the same stadium, and this is an advantage for me, and I hope I will be able to make it because I have never represented Kenya at the World Athletics Championships.
I will be glad to make the team because it has always been my joy representing Kenya,” he said.
In 2023, Kipkurui narrowly missed a spot on Kenya’s team for the World Championships in Budapest after placing fourth in the 5,000m trials.
Beyond athletics, Kipkurui emphasised the importance of education in transforming his life and that of his family.
He currently holds the fastest time in the 10,000m globally this year—26:50.21—recorded at Sound Running’s The Ten on March 29, 2025, making him eligible for the World Athletics Championships.
Kipkurui has previously represented Kenya with distinction, winning gold in the junior category at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Australia and competing at the 2024 edition in Belgrade, Serbia.
In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, several Kenyan athletes advanced to the final, including: Joash Ruto (Iowa State University), Collins Kiprop (University of Kentucky), Silas Kiptanui (Tulane University), Mathew Kosgei (University of New Mexico), Geoffrey Kirwa (University of Louisville), and Victor Kibiego (Texas A&M University)
In the men’s 800m, Koitatoi Kidali of the University of Oregon qualified for Friday’s final.
