Kiptoo Resets Indoor 5K Record at BU Season Opener

BOSTON – Wesley Kiptoo began his defense of the men's indoor 5,000-meter run in emphatic style Saturday at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at the BU Track & Tennis Center. Kiptoo, who entered the weekend with the No. 11 mark in collegiate history in the event, shot all the way up to No. 3, resetting his school record with a 13:14.74.

He is the eighth man in collegiate history to go sub-13:20 indoors. Only Arizona's Lawai Lalang (13:08.28) and Stephan Sambu (13:13.74) have gone faster than Kiptoo in the indoor 5K, both running their marks at the 2012 Millrose Games.

The race was all business from the start, with a 62 second first 400 setting the bar for the field. Kiptoo was up for it the whole way, taking the first 1,600m in 4:16.75.

Though the event win was not on the cards, with former Wisconsin star Olli Hoare running to a new Australian National Record in 13:09.96 and ex-Northern Arizona All-American Geordie Beamish breaking the New Zealand National Record in 13:12.53, Kiptoo was able to stand out and run the fastest collegiate mark in nearly a decade when he crossed the line in 13:14.74.

It was an outstanding performance by the collegians, with Kiptoo leading 14 collegians to sub-13:40 marks.

Up Next
Iowa State opens its home schedule next Saturday with the ISU Holiday Invitational at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. Field events will begin at noon, with running events at 1 p.m. For more information, please visit the meet website, here.

Iowa State Results
5,000m Run (M): 1. Olli Hoare, On Athletics Club – 13:09.96; 3. Wesley Kiptoo, Iowa State – 13:14.74