Young Cyclone Makes Early Impact

AMES, Iowa – International student-athletes are an integral part of the Iowa State track and field team with 11 student-athletes native to a country other than the United States. Freshman Edward Kemboi is the newest international addition to the track and field roster and has wasted no time making his presence known on the track.

At 17-years-old, the Kenya native is the youngest student-athlete on the Cyclone roster. After arriving in Ames at the beginning of the recently-ended spring semester, he adjusted quickly and competed at the 2011 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in February where he finished 11th in the 800-meter run.

“(Edward) came to us at the start of the spring semester,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said at the 2011 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. “He just keeps getting better and better.”

Kemboi jumped into the outdoor season competing in a number of meets across the country as far away from campus as the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. and as close to Ames as the Drake Relays in Des Moines.

“It was a good experience to travel during the outdoor season,” Kemboi said. “Before I came here, I had never been to the United States. Now I have been to many different states for meets which has been exciting.”

At the 2011 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 13-15 in Norman, Okla., Kemboi impressed the coaching staff with a personal best 1:49.58 in the Saturday preliminary of the 800-meter run, automatically qualifying him for Sunday's final. The 800-meter final brought another personal best time for Kemboi (1:47.90), as he ran to a second-place finish in the event. Not long after the 800-meter race had ended, the freshman showcased his talents again, running a 46.9 split as the third leg of the eighth-place finishing 4x400-meter relay team.

“He made a great effort in the 800-meter final (at the Big 12 Championships),” Ihmels said after the meet. “His ensuing relay leg says a lot about him. What's really impressive is that he is still only 17.”

Kemboi won't turn 18 until December.

His performance at the conference championships places him seventh regionally and 12th nationally in the 800-meter run heading into the NCAA West Regional Thursday through Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

“I expect the (800-meter) race at the regional meet to be very fast,” Kemboi said. “The 1:47 is my best time so far, but there are a few guys who are running 1:45. I hope to be in the top group that goes to the national meet.”

The first round of the men's 800-meter run is scheduled for Thursday at 8:50 p.m. CDT. The top 24 finishers from Thursday's first round will advance to the quarterfinals Friday at 7:05 p.m. CDT. The top 12 quarterfinal finishers from the west region will advance to the NCAA Championships June 8-11 in Des Moines.

Players Mentioned

Edward Kemboi

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics