The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cross Country’s Kidus Misgina Named SEC Men’s Newcomer of the Year
11/18/2025 | Cross Country
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ole Miss men's cross country redshirt junior Kidus Misgina has been named the SEC Men's Newcomer of the Year, as announced by the conference office in its season awards release on Tuesday afternoon.
Misgina, who is in his first cross country season with the Rebels in 2025, has been splendid for Ole Miss this fall, running as the low stick in each of his five races. Most recently, he led the charge for the Rebels in an impressive bounce-back performance at the NCAA South Regional, where he finished fifth overall for All-Region honors and helped push Ole Miss to an automatic national qualifying berth as the South Region runners-up.
At SECs, Misgina also earned first-team All-SEC after a sixth-place finish. Misgina never finished worse than 11th this season, and he ran career-bests in the 8K (22:51.8) and 10K (29:20.5). On the track with the Rebels this past spring, Misgina was a two-time SEC scorer and a national qualifier in the 10K after shattering the Ole Miss outdoor record by 24-seconds at his PR 28:20.19.
Per the USTFCCCA's Cross Country Rating Index, Misgina ranks No. 32 nationally in XCRI this season, as well as No. 10 nationally in its Season Component Score.
The No. 25 Ole Miss men will run at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Nov. 22, at the University of Missouri. Uninterrupted coverage on ESPNU begins at 9 a.m. CT, with the Rebel men slated to run in the championship 10K race at 10:10 a.m. CT.
2025 SEC Cross Country Individual Awards
Men's Runner of the Year: Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Men's Freshman Runner of the Year: Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Men's Newcomer Runner of the Year: Kidus Misgina, Ole Miss
Men's Coach of the Year: Dan Waters, Alabama
Women's Runner of the Year: Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Women's Freshman Runner of the Year: Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
Women's Newcomer Runner of the Year: Judy Chepkoech, Florida
Women's Coach of the Year: Will Palmer, Florida
Misgina, who is in his first cross country season with the Rebels in 2025, has been splendid for Ole Miss this fall, running as the low stick in each of his five races. Most recently, he led the charge for the Rebels in an impressive bounce-back performance at the NCAA South Regional, where he finished fifth overall for All-Region honors and helped push Ole Miss to an automatic national qualifying berth as the South Region runners-up.
At SECs, Misgina also earned first-team All-SEC after a sixth-place finish. Misgina never finished worse than 11th this season, and he ran career-bests in the 8K (22:51.8) and 10K (29:20.5). On the track with the Rebels this past spring, Misgina was a two-time SEC scorer and a national qualifier in the 10K after shattering the Ole Miss outdoor record by 24-seconds at his PR 28:20.19.
Per the USTFCCCA's Cross Country Rating Index, Misgina ranks No. 32 nationally in XCRI this season, as well as No. 10 nationally in its Season Component Score.
The No. 25 Ole Miss men will run at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Nov. 22, at the University of Missouri. Uninterrupted coverage on ESPNU begins at 9 a.m. CT, with the Rebel men slated to run in the championship 10K race at 10:10 a.m. CT.
2025 SEC Cross Country Individual Awards
Men's Runner of the Year: Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Men's Freshman Runner of the Year: Kelvin Cheruiyot, Florida
Men's Newcomer Runner of the Year: Kidus Misgina, Ole Miss
Men's Coach of the Year: Dan Waters, Alabama
Women's Runner of the Year: Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Women's Freshman Runner of the Year: Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
Women's Newcomer Runner of the Year: Judy Chepkoech, Florida
Women's Coach of the Year: Will Palmer, Florida
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
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