ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Junior Ednah Kurgat has been selected as the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Women’s Athlete of the Week as announced on Tuesday.
It is the first of the awards to be given for the 2018 indoor track and field season, and also marks the first time that Kurgat has been selected for national athlete of the week for track and field. In program history, Kurgat is the first female athlete from UNM to be named national athlete of the week during the indoor season, and just the second female overall (Courtney Frerichs was chosen during the outdoor portion of the season in 2016).
The honor comes after the Eldoret, Kenya, native produced the top time at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston over the weekend, in which the runner set several records in the 5,000-meter race.
Kurgat’s time of 15:14.78 broke her own school record as well as the Mountain West indoor record, both of which she set in 2017 at the same Boston University meet, by 4.25 seconds. The time also registered as the third-fastest time in NCAA history and was 0.60 seconds off of the second-fastest time in history. As it stands, the fastest time for the 5,000-meter ever recorded was 15:12.22, a difference of 2.56 seconds.
In the first indoor track and field competition of the season, Kurgat was one of four runners to break the 15:17 mark and join the top-10 all-time ranking in the event.
The Lobos return to competition at home on Jan. 18 with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Invitational.
Fans can attend the invitational using their New Mexico Mutual Pride Pass, which can be purchased for $50, and includes admission to all indoor track, baseball and softball home events.
To purchase your 2018-19 New Mexico Mutual Lobo Pride Pass click here.
You may also call 925-LOBO or visit the Lobo Ticket Office located in Dreamstyle Arena for more information.