Kosgei, Kiprotich Earn MW Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week Honors
After running the fastest mile times at altitude in collegiate history for a pair of new UNM program records at the Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational on Saturday in Albuquerque, Pamela Kosgei has been named MW Women’s Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week and Collins Kiprotich has been named Men’s Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
It’s the second MW weekly track award of the indoor season for the two freshmen, who combined for three weekly cross country awards during the fall 2024 season – Kosgei was named MW Athlete & Freshman of the Week twice (Oct. 8 & Oct. 22) and Kiprotich was named MW Freshman of the Week on Oct. 22. The duo swept the first MW weekly awards of indoor season on Dec. 10.
PAMELA KOSGEI | MW Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week
Kosgei boat raced the field en route to breaking Weini Kelati’s indoor record (4:31.07) that had stood since 2019, finishing more than 10 seconds ahead of the next-fastest finisher with a 4:36.70 time that converts to 4:30.68 – a time that ranks among the Top 40 in collegiate history and stands at No. 4 in the nation this season while leading the MW.
In her first two collegiate indoor races, Kosgei has now broken both the UNM 5,000m and Mile records – her 5,000m record set in Boston in December ranks No. 4 on the NCAA all-time list.
COLLINS KIPROTICH | MW Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week
Kiprotich beat out professional runner Waleed Suliman to win the men’s mile on Day 2 of the MLK Invite with a 3:58.60 (3:53.41 converted) clocking that stands as both a UNM program record and the fastest collegiate indoor mile ever run at elevation. His converted time ranks No. 3 in the nation and leads the Mountain West – it’s also good for No. 13 on the USTFCCCA all-time collegiate indoor list.
In NCAA history, only eight men have gone below the four-minute mark in the mile at altitude — Kiprotich and Habtom Samuel (3:59.59) both did so in the same race on Saturday, with Samuel’s 3:59.12 time at the MLK meet last year making him the only athlete to do so twice.
UP NEXT
New Mexico Track & Field splits up between three meets across the country this coming weekend, with contingents at the UW Invitational (Seattle, Wash.) and John Thomas Terrier Classic (Boston, Mass.) while also hosting the UNM Team Open at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The action in Boston and Albuquerque will be available to stream via paid subscription to FloTrack, with the UW Invitational streamed via RunnerSpace +. Head to GoLobos.com/FollowTrack for all of this week’s live results and streaming links all in one place and follow @UNMLoboXCTF on Instagram and X for live coverage, meet day content and more.