Kirui Named National Co-Scholar Athlete of Year

OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss sophomore Barnabas Kirui added another accomplishment to his impressive resume on Monday when he was named the Division I Track and Field National Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Kirui, a banking a finance major, holds a 3.69 GPA in the classroom and shared the national honor with McNeese State pole vaulter Bradley Gebauer.

The Kaplong, Kenya native won the 10th national title in school history when he claimed the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships. He won four SEC titles in 2006-07 and became the fourth runner in league history to win all three distance races (5,000 and 10,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase) at an SEC championships. He was named the 2007 SEC Track and Field Runner of the Year and the 2006 SEC Cross Country Freshman and Runner of the Year. He was also named the NCAA South Regional Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Kirui was also named a first team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine this season.

“Barnabas is a pleasure to be around and coach. He is a tremendous student-athlete and does all the right things. This award is a great honor for Barnabas. We are all very excited for him,” said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker.

Joining Kirui on the 2007 USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team were teammates Carmia Carroll, Marlee Kevech, Zuzana Legatova and Wale Odetunde.

The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track season. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, one must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and obtain an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark for the most recent indoor championships or an outdoor regional qualifying mark in their respective event.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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