Per GOCARDS.com –
EUGENE, Ore. – University of Louisville senior Edwin Kibichiy jumped out to an early lead and never looked back on his way to the 2017 NCAA 3,000 Meter Steeplechase title on Friday evening at Hayward Field. He becomes just the second Cardinal to win an NCAA Outdoor title, behind Matt Hughes who won the 2010 and 2011 steeplechase title. The Louisville men finished 22nd with 11.5 points for the third best finish in school history.
“Edwin was simply amazing in the steeplechase today,” said head coach Dale Cowper. “He controlled the race from start to finish to become our fourth national champion in program history. He has been an amazing representative of our program. I can’t say enough about the way he has developed under Coach Walker’s guidance the last five years.”
Kibichiy won the event with a personal best time of 8:28.40. His nearest competitor finished almost three seconds behind. He surpassed his previous best finish of third at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. Kibichiy earns first team All-American honors for the second straight year.
He finishes his career at Louisville with four conference titles in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, including three straight ACC titles. He also won the event at the 2017 NCAA East Preliminary Round. This tops an impressive season by Kibichiy who also earned USTFCCCA All-American honors in cross country, while finishing eighth at nationals for the best individual finish in school history.
National champion!! Congratulations Edwin Kibichiy! #GoCards #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/0CLQy4fhcX
— Louisville XC / T&F (@UofLTrackXC) June 10, 2017
