Serious Question: How Is Kennedy Kithuka Listed As A Jr - He Graduated HS In 2007?

College Running D1

11 years ago 12/14/2012 6:20pm EST

I'm not trying to be a jerk here. I'm trying to understand the NCAA rule-book.

I was reading the RTimes profile of him here:

http://www.runnersworld.com/college-runner-profiles/kithuka-hits-his-stride

The thing that struck me is it says he graduated from HS in 2007.

If that's true, how could he be a junior? Shouldn't he be a senior?

The NCAA rule-book says that after one year out of HS, you are charged with 1 year of competition.

So by my reasoning, 2008 would be his year off. 2009 would be his freshman year, 2010 sophomore year, 2011 junior year and this year his senior year.

College coaches, did that rule not start until 8/1/2011 and is that why he is eligible? I know that rule is fairly recent.

Or do they graduate HS in the fall in Kenya or something. So his first time to enroll would be 2009. 2010 would be his frosh year, 2011 soph and this his jr?

See page 155 of the rule book -

http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D112.pdf

College coaches, what's the correct answer?

Xenophobes, please don't post on this thread.

11 years ago 12/14/2012 7:43pm EST

re: new college coach

Red Shirt year somewhere along the way.

11 years ago 12/14/2012 7:55pm EST

re: Eugene the Careful Axe Wielder

Besides his age...how about this quote from him:

-----------

"When I was in high school and was a freshman I ran a little bit and running was hard for me and I had to give it up.”

As a junior, Kithuka tried running again. More frustration. “I went to cross county provisionals, but I didn’t make it to nationals,” he says. “I was like number 85 in the race and felt like giving up again. But I ran track and trained hard, and I still was not that good. I ran like 15:20 for 5K.

---------------

Thanks Kithuka, for saying that a 15:20 5K isn't good. Yeah...I'm slow compared to him, as is the rest of the NCAA. But I wonder how many of his teammates run 15:20 5K's right now? I would venture to say a few of them do...

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Serious Question: How Is Kennedy Kithuka Listed As A Jr - He Graduated HS In 2007?

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