COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — University of New Mexico track & field athlete Ednah Kurgat has been named Mountain West Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week for meets contested from May 3-6.
Kurgat, hailing from Eldoret, Kenya, ran to the NCAA lead in the 5,000-meter run last Thursday at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford, clocking a time of 15 minutes, 20.06 seconds to place as the top-finishing collegian.
She just managed to edge Stanford’s Vanessa Fraser on her home track at Cobb Track and Angell Field to move into the 2018 NCAA lead by .04 seconds.
Kurgat also leads the Mountain West by more than 2.5 seconds over teammate Weini Kelati, who finished the race in 15:22.71.
On top of that, Kurgat’s time broke Calli Thackery’s UNM record of 15:37.44 set at the 2016 Payton Jordan Invite and Boise State runner Emma Bates’ MW record of 15:33.42 set in 2014.
Kurgat also ranks less than 1.5 seconds out of the NCAA’s historical top 10, with the No. 10 performer all-time, Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton of Wichita State, owning a time of 15:18.86.
Additionally, Kurgat’s time ranks 12th in the world in 2018.
This selection is Kurgat’s second in track & field and fourth overall, as she earned one during the indoor season and two during her undefeated cross country season last fall.
This is also the team’s second MW honor of the outdoor season after Josh Kerr was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week in April. UNM earned three weekly selections during the indoor campaign.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Twitter and Instagram to keep track of the Lobos!