HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Another race at the national meet, another top-eight finish for NIACC’s Melvin Kipkemboi.
Kipkemboi, a sophomore from Rift Valley, Kenya, wrapped up his brilliant NIACC career with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run Saturday afternoon at the NJCAA Division I national championships in a time of 14 minutes, 40.97 seconds. It was the sixth time that Kipkemboi earned USTFCCCA all-American honors by placing in the top eight at the national track and field meet.
The fourth-place finish by Kipkemboi in the 5,000 was the highest finish for a NIACC men’s athlete at the national outdoor meet since Wal Khat won the 800-meter run in 2017.
Northwest Kansas’ Vincent Nchogu barely edged out Kipkemboi in the 5,000 for third in a time of 14:40.05.
Colby CC’s Sanele Masondo was the 5,000 champion in a time of 14:31.61 and Garden City CC’s Dennis Mutai was second in 14:31.63.
On Friday, Kipkemboi placed seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a school record time of 9:29.06.
At the 2021 national indoor meet, Kipkemboi was third in the 5,000 and seventh in the 3,000.
At the 2021 national outdoor meet, Kipkemboi was sixth in the 10,000 and seventh in the 5,000.
Also Saturday for the Trojans, sophomore Randry Mugisha was 11th in the javelin with a toss of 137-7. Kameron Glasper was 16th in the discus (142-4).
For the NIACC women, Halsie Keltner was 10th in the javelin with a toss of 117-4. The 10th place finish by Keltner was the highest finish for a NIACC female athlete at the outdoor national meet since Kasey Parish placed sixth in the javelin at the 2019 national meet.
