The University of Mississippi Athletics
Barnabas Kirui Ready To Compete For National Title
11/18/2010 | Track and Field
Nov. 18, 2010
OXFORD, Miss. - In his final college race on Monday, Ole Miss senior Barnabas Kirui will have a chance to compete for a national title at the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
Kirui qualified automatically for the championships by finishing as one of the top four runners not on a qualifying team at the NCAA South Regional this past Saturday. He placed sixth overall at the regional with a 10K time of 30:15.66.
The Litein, Kenya native will be competing in his third career NCAA Cross Country Championships. Last year, he finished fourth place and received All-America recognition.
By far the most decorated long-distance runner in Ole Miss history, Kirui boasts a list of accomplishments highlighted by the three SEC cross country titles, an NCAA title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, four SEC track and field individual titles, two SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year awards and three SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Year awards. He has also been honored by the league for his work in the community and in the classroom, and has earned a national academic award from the USTFCCCA.
This season alone, Kirui took home SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors after winning his third SEC Cross Country Championship. He was named All-SEC first team and also earned All-South Region honors from the USTFCCCA.
Kirui helped the Ole Miss men to one of the best seasons in school history. The Rebels' fifth-place finish at the SEC Championships was their best since 1996 and tied for the fourth-best ever. Martin Kirui was named to the All-SEC second team and Kipchirchir Kiptoo earned SEC All-Freshman honors.