KIBET IS NJCAA NATIONAL RUNNER OF THE WEEK

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College freshman distance runner Andrew Kibet was recognized this week for his tremendous Region VI Championship by being named the NJCAA Division I National Athlete of the Week.

Selected by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Kibet is the first Blue Dragon this season to earn the weekly honor.

Kibet led the Blue Dragon men to a fourth-place Region VI and third-place Jayhawk West finish by winning by the 800 and 1,500 meters on Saturday at BG Products Veterans Memorial Stadium in El Dorado.

Kibet broke the Hutchinson school record in the 800 with a Region VI winning time of 1:51.22. That time is currently fourth in the NJCAA. Kibet broke the 1979 record of Van Shaffer (1:51.38). Kibet win the event with a dramatic stretch run, passing three runners in the final 100 meters and out-leaned the field at the wire to win.

Then about an hour later, Kibet won the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:47.89. Kibet and Colby's Nehemiah Too dueled down the final stretch. Kibet led around the final turn and held off Too, defeating the Colby runner by .11 second.

Kibet's 1,500 time is No. 1 in the NJCAA this season and ninth fastest in NJCAA history. Strangely enough, it's only the second-fastest time in Blue Dragon history. Ted Crank owns the Hutch record set in 1976 and the third-fastest 1,500 time in NJCAA history at 3:46.60.

Kibet was named the Region VI Male Track Athletic of the Meet.

The Blue Dragons will next compete at the NJCAA Championships on May 16-18 in Hobbs, New Mexico.