Alabama
San Francisco State Distance Carnival
Alabama Track & Field’s Vincent Kiprop Sprints to Victory in the 10,000 Meters at the Stanford Invitational
3/31/2018 1:42:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Junior posts second-fastest time in UA history to capture the win over an elite field of runners
PALO ALTO, Calif. – Alabama track & field's Vincent Kiprop turned in his fastest lap of the night on his final trip around the track to win the men's invitational 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational late Friday evening in Palo Alto, Calif.
Competing in his first race of the outdoor season, the junior turned in a 58 second final 400 meters and overtook race leader Lopez Lomong at the top of the home stretch to cross the finish line first in a personal-best 28:19.07. Kiprop's winning time ranks No. 2 in Alabama history. Teammates Gilbert Kigen (28:27.31) and Alfred Chelanga (28.32.66) finished third and fifth, respectively, and were the second and fourth collegiate finishers in the 27-man field. Kigen and Chelanga's times are the fourth- and fifth-best ever at Alabama.
"What a performance by Vincent tonight," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said. "To run a sub-60 second final lap in his first 10,000 of the year is just tremendous. Gilbert and Alfred looked very strong as well and all three ran a smart race. This was a good night for us."
The win continues a stellar debut season at Alabama for Kiprop. He entered the 2018 outdoor season having already earned All-America honors in cross country and indoor track & field after finishing seventh at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November and second in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships earlier this month. He also won the individual title at the 2017 SEC Cross Country Championships. The Kericho, Kenya native was a two-time NCAA Division II champion in the 10,000 meters at Missouri Southern State University before transferring to the Capstone following the 2016-17 school year.
In other action at Stanford late on Friday, freshman McKenzie Yanek (35:19.89) and sophomore Elisabeth Danis (35:49.91) finished 21st and 24th, respectively, among collegiate runners in Section 2 of the women's 10,000 meters. The times are personal bests for both and the race was Yanek's collegiate debut at that distance. Senior Conner Thompson was the final Tide finished 26th in Section 2 of the men's 10,000 meters in 29:50.57.
At the San Francisco State Distance Carnival earlier on Friday, sophomore J.P. Brinyark finished 41st among collegiate runners in the 10,000 meters in 31:23.32 while freshman Chase Buckelew finished 42nd in 31:24.50. The outings were the first for both at that distance at the collegiate level.
Alabama's full squad will be in action next weekend when UA hosts the Crimson Tide Invitational presented by Beynon Sports, April 6-7, at the Sam Bailey Track & Field Complex in Tuscaloosa. The meet will be the Tide's only home appearance this season.
Stanford Invitational
Friday, March 30, 2018
Palo Alto, Calif. (Stanford University)
Men
Invitational 10,000 Meters – 1. Vincent Kiprop, 28:19.07 (PB); 3. Gilbert Kigen, 28:27.31 (PB); 5. Alfred Chelanga, 28:32.66
10,000 Meters (Section 2) – 26. Conner Thompson, 29:50.57
Women
10,000 Meters (Section 2) – 21. McKenzie Yanek, 35:12.89 (PB); 24. Elisabeth Danis, 35:49.91 (PB)
San Francisco State Distance Carnival
Friday, March 30, 2018
Hayward, Calif. (San Francisco State University)
Men
10,000 Meters – 41. J.P. Brinyark, 31:23.32 (PB); 42. Chase Buckelew, 31:24.50 (PB)
Alabama Superlatives
School Top-10 Performances
Men
10,000 Meters – 2. Vincent Kiprop, 28:19.07
10,000 Meters – 4. Gilbert Kigen, 28:27.31
10,000 Meters – 5. Alfred Chelanga, 28:32.66
Personal Bests
Men
10,000 Meters – Vincent Kiprop, 28:19.07
10,000 Meters – Gilbert Kigen, 28:27.31
10,000 Meters – J.P. Brinyark, 31:23.32
10,000 Meters – Chase Buckelew, 31:24.50
Women
10,000 Meters –McKenzie Yanek, 35:12.89
10,000 Meters – Elisabeth Danis, 35:49.91
PB – Personal Best
PSB – Personal Season Best
TSB – Team Season Best
SR – School Record
MR – Meet Record
NM – No mark
NH – No height
DNF – Did not finish
DNS – Did not start
Q – Qualified for final with heat finish
q – Qualified for final with heat time
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Players Mentioned
