The University of Mississippi Athletics
Barnabas Kirui Named SEC Cross Country Athlete Of The Year
11/5/2010 | Track and Field
Nov. 5, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the third time in his career, Ole Miss' Barnabas Kirui has been named the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Friday.
Kirui won his third SEC Cross Country individual championship on Monday, when his time of 23:52.07 beat Auburn's Ben Cheruiyot by almost 10 seconds. The Rebel senior became the fourth runner in league history to claim three SEC Cross Country titles. He also won the event and was named the league's athlete of the year in 2006 and 2009.
Kirui also made the All-SEC first team, while two more Rebels received all-league recognition. Junior Martin Kirui, Barnabas' brother, was named to the second team after finishing 14th at the league championships, and Kipchirchir Kiptoo made the SEC All-Freshman squad by finishing third among league freshmen in the race.
"We were extremely proud of all three efforts," Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker said. "It was great for Barnabas to win a third title and again be named SEC Cross Country athlete of the year. I know it was special for Barnabas and Martin to be together on the All-SEC team. Then to have Kipchirchir earn all-freshman honors just made it that much better. We are proud of them!"
The trio helped the Ole Miss men to a fifth-place finish, their best showing at the SEC Championships since placing fifth in 1996.
The Ole Miss men and women will compete next in the NCAA South Regional, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 13 in Birmingham, Ala. If either Ole Miss team or any individuals qualify for the NCAA Championships, they will run on Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.
Barnabas Kirui finished fourth at last year's NCAA Cross Country Championships, the highest ever finish by a Rebel.