Ishmael Kipkirui - 2023 U20 world XC champ, 8:09 2 mile, 13:05 - signs with New Mexico

That’s his 2023 performances. In 2024, he “only” ran 7:46.63 (3000m).

That would have only been the 26th NCAA performance indoor 23/24

He battled injuries all year after making the senior Kenyan world XC team. He rallied to just miss the medals at World Juniors. Make no mistake this is a bigger talent than Brian Musau and he excels at cross country in particular.

I hate to say it but with Strand and Wolfe going 7:30 as well as a slew of others sub 7:40, this 13:05 / 7:38 guy isn’t that impressive. I mean yeah he’ll be a great low stick in addition to Samuel but def-o not the TITAN to take all records as claimed

Kipkirui comes in more credentialed (and younger) than Habtom Samuel, so it’s possible he jumps to an even higher level. But at this point the ncaa is basically pro level. Unless they add Jacob Krop or Biniam Mehary I’m not sure what a Titan would be. It’s not another 13:0x guy.

Is this guy a Rosa Associati athlete? His instagram is full of him in their gear.

I was never against recruiting overseas athletes to college, I ran against plenty a long time ago, but the past few years have become ridiculous.

Hey Coach

ok so your a good recruiter….how about development for regional talents which is more motivating for our young athletes.

No one cares at this point about UNM XC

n

Take a break from the keyboard you xenophobic dink.

I care

He is very good but I also remember racing (does it count as a race if you are 35 seconds behind?) Lawi Lalang after he ran 13:03 in Europe.

Or racing Sam Chelanga after he broke 27:00

good get for them. Honestly I think it is kinda of cool, the NCAA is becoming far and away the best track organization globally.

SIGN GOUT GOUT

I believe so yes like Pamela Kosgei and others. Also his training group all seems to either go NCAA or to Japan so I'm not too surprised.

Hard to know how he will develop in the new setup but he's got to be the highest calibre Kenyan man to sign in this new era

This is sad news for any 9:00-9:15 high schoolers in New Mexico who were hoping to run for UNM. Another state university spot taken away from a local kid for a foreigner.

Ishmael was a Rosa athlete. I am unable to discern the specific details on why, but the ‘club’ structure helps him to skirt amateurism rules for the NCAA.

New Mexico’s top American signing for 2025 just placed 7th at footlocker. Show me the last 100% American roster to win a national title. Providence’s entire top 7 for their 3rd place team weren’t American yet we never hear any crying about it. I wonder what makes Providence’s team different from New Mexico…

Dude if a 9:00 kid from New Mexico actually wanted to go there they would be welcomed with open arms

Here is their roster ...

NameClassHometownPrevious SchoolVincent Chirchir
Fr. (XC) / Fr. (I) / So. (O)
Keringet, Kenya
Keringet Boys School

Corne de Fouw
Fr. (XC) / Fr. (I) / Fr. (O)
Krugersdorp, South Africa
Laerskool Unika

Evans Kiplagat
So. (XC) / So. (I) / So. (O)
Eldoret, Kenya
Friends Bwake Boys HS

Lukas Kiprop
So. (XC) / So. (I) / Fr. (O)
Baringo County, Kenya
A.I.C Moi Academy Esageri

Collins Kiprotich
Fr. (XC) / Fr. (I) / Fr. (O)
Eldoret, Kenya

Habtom Samuel
So. (XC) / So. (I) / So. (O)
Keren, Eritrea
Al Selef Al Salih

Iker Sanchez
Fr. (XC) / Jr. (I) / Jr. (O)
Aguascalientes, Mexico
CNAR Mexico City / Arizona

Thomas Termote
Sr. (XC) / Sr. (I) / Sr. (O)
Clarensac, France
Lycée Ernest Hemingway / Charleston

Rikus Van Niekerk
Sr. (XC) / So. (I) / Sr. (O)
Kempton Park, South Africa
Die Hoërskool Menlopark / Cal Baptist

Your point being? You intentionally didn’t include any of the Americans on their in ur post. their women’s team has a few Americans in their top 7. UNMs 2nd place team a few years back was majority European and Australian but nobody complained. you posted that roster like there’s something wrong with it

You will start seeing a bifurcation of “coaching” in the NCAA. There will be the Mike Smith / Eyestone / Miltenberg types who take on freshman and develop them or you will have the Dave Smith / Franklin / Bucknam model where you mostly just buy low 13 minute 5k guys and just make sure they show up to most classes and the vans to go to the airport.

Jerry is starting to go to the Smith / Franklin approach to save his job.