Open Announce

Kurgat Wins MW Women's Track Athlete of the Week

MW RELEASE 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—  One meet into the 2018-19 track and field season and The University of New Mexico track and field team has picked up its first conference accolade.

Junior Ednah Kurgat has been named the Mountain West Female Track Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Dec. 1, the conference announced on Tuesday. 

In her first indoor track and field competition of the season, the distance runner produced the top time in the elite 5,000-meter event, and in the process broke her own school and Mountain West indoor record in the event.

Kurgat’s time of 15:14.78 broke both records, 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.

She beat out fellow Lobos Weini Kelati and Charlotte Prouse, Boise State runner Allie Ostrander and Air Force runner Jaci Smith for the win and was one of four runners to break the 15:17 mark to claim a spot in the top-10 all-time NCAA rankings. 

This is the third MW honor that Kurgat has won in her career, winning once before in the indoor season and once during the outdoor season, both of which occurred last season.

Kurgat has already earned national honors for her result, as she was selected as the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Women’s Athlete of the Week on Dec. 4.

The Lobos resume their season 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.