UNM TRACK & FIELD
New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei finishes a narrow second in NCAA 10K national championship
Star sophomore led late but was upset by Iowa State's Mercyline Kirwa
UNM鈥檚 Pamela Kosgei crosses the finish line to win the women鈥檚 5,000-meter race at the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 17 in Clovis, Calif.
Published
Modified
With one lap remaining in Thursday鈥檚 women鈥檚 10,000-meter final, it wasn鈥檛 much of a surprise who led the way.
The leader of the pack: Jane Hedengren, BYU鈥檚 star freshman and the owner of the fastest NCAA 10K of all time at 30 minutes and 46.80 seconds. Right behind her: Pamela Kosgei, already one of the great runners in New Mexico鈥檚 storied history after claiming national 5K and 10K titles as a freshman last season.
What was a surprise?
Neither won.
Behind a monster final kick, Iowa State鈥檚 Mercyline Kirwa finished in 31:54.88 seconds to win the 10K title and deny Kosgei her second consecutive national championship in the event at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Racing at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Kosgei (31:56.49) and Hedengren (31:57.94) led at the front for virtually all of the second half of Thursday鈥檚 final. The two held that pattern until the final lap, when Kosgei finally kicked past Hedengren with around 200 meters to go.
Kirwa, however, was lurking. The freshman from Baringo, Kenya uncorked a hard kick and passed Kosgei entering the final turn, surging over the final 100 meters to claim her first NCAA title and one of the most notable upsets of the meet thus far.
With the second-fastest NCAA time this season (30:49.99), Kosgei was largely considered one of the favorites for Thursday鈥檚 final. Last season, the sophomore from Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya set a meet record (31:17.82) and dominated the field for her first NCAA title.
Kosgei will get a chance to defend her 5K title Saturday night at 7:55 p.m.
Around the track
One of the great seasons for any Lobo sprinter came to an end Thursday night.
UNM鈥檚 Taniya Looney did not advance out of the women鈥檚 100 and 200 semifinals, closing a year that saw her set new program records in both races.
The junior transfer from Pittsburg State finished 13th and 15th, respectively, in the 100 (11.13) and 200 (22.99). She was the first Lobo to run in either races at the outdoor championships since 1984.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
