Joseph, Kipyego Advance to NCAA Final

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Rachel Joseph and Darius Kipyego advanced to finals while three earned All-America honors in the first day of NCAA Indoor Championships.

Joseph kept her record-breaking season going as the junior advanced to the eight-person 400m final. Joseph raced in the second of four semifinal heats, alongside Paris Olympian Ella Onojuvwevwo, and clocked 51.86 which would go on to stand as the eighth fastest. Joseph will race tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. CT.

Rachel Joseph.

✓ Big 12 Champion
✓ Sub-51 400m Sprinter
✓ NCAA Finalist#CycloneSZN pic.twitter.com/UBnUKrqD7w
— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) March 14, 2025

Kipyego also made his final, automatically qualifying in his heat with 1:47.21. The senior took the lead out of the first turn and held it to the final straight as he comfortably stood in a qualifying position. Kipyego books a return trip to the NCAA 800m indoor final with the finish.

NCAA finalist once again.

Darius Kipyego puts up a big Q in his 800m heat to advance to tomorrow's final with 1:47.21, the 4th-fastest time in semifinals.#CycloneSZN pic.twitter.com/TQBUkz7OxK
— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) March 15, 2025

Cam Jones continued to cement himself as one of the best throwers in Iowa State history as he picked up his fifth-career All-America honor and third in the weight throw. Jones took 13^th with a best mark of 69-9 3/4 (21.28m). He becomes just the second five-time All-American thrower in ISU men's history, joining seven-time All-American Jamie Beye. He remains the only Cyclone to earn multiple weight throw honors.

Said Mechaal earned Second Team All-America with a 13^th-place 5,000m finish of 13:34.55, his fourth All-America honor through track and field and cross country. Mechaal is the fourth in ISU men's history to earn multiple honors in the indoor 5K. Sanele Masondo was unable to finish, but still earned Honorable Mention All-America for his fourth-career honor. The duo bring Iowa State's program total to 16 All-America honors in the men's indoor 5K.

The heptathlon began with Thai Thompson nearly going sub-seven seconds in the 60m dash with 7.02, good for 875 points. Thompson then leapt to 23-3 1/2 (7.10) on his second of three attempts for seventh in the long jump to add 838 points to his total. Moving to the shot put, Thompson hit his best of three attempts on the first try with 36-8 1/4 (11.18m).

In the fourth and final event of the day, the high jump, Thompson cleared 6-4 1/4 (1.94m) for 749 points. The senior ends day one with 3,019 points and stands in 15th place. Thompson will complete the heptathlon tomorrow, with 60m hurdles, pole vault and the 1,000m remaining.

NCAA Championships continue tomorrow for the final day. Iowa State's full schedule is below.

Iowa State Results

Heptathlon 60m (M): 1. Peyton Bair, Mississippi State – 6.74; 10. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 7.02

Heptathlon Long Jump (M): 1. Carter Morton, UNI – 24-2 1/4 (7.37m); 7. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 23-3 1/2 (7.10m)

Heptathlon Shot Put (M): 1. Edgar Campre, Miami – 50-10 1/4 (15.50m); 15. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 36-8 1/4 (11.18m)

Heptathlon High Jump (M): 1. Carter Morton, UNI – 6-10 1/4 (2.09m); 11. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 6-4 1/4 (1.94m)

400m Semifinals (W): 1. Vimbayi Maisvorewa, Auburn – 51.51; 8. Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – 51.86

Weight Throw (M): 1. Daniel Reynolds, Wyoming – 82-3 1/2 (25.08m); 13. Cam Jones, Iowa State – 69-9 3/4 (21.28m)

800m Semifinals (M): 1. Matthew Erickson, Oregon – 1:46.11; 4. Darius Kipyego, Iowa State – 1:47.21

5,000m (M): 1. Brian Musau, Oklahoma State – 13:11.34; 13. Said Mechaal, Iowa State – 13:34.55; Sanele Masondo, Iowa State – DNF

Saturday Schedule (All Times Central)

8:30 a.m. – Heptathlon 60m Hurdles (M): Thai Thompson

9:30 a.m. – Heptathlon Pole Vault (M): Thai Thompson

11:00 a.m. – High Jump (M): Braden Goellner

1:30 p.m. – Heptathlon 1,000m (M): Thai Thompson

2:20 p.m. – 400m Final (W): Rachel Joseph

5:30 p.m. – 800m Final (M): Darius Kipyego

Players Mentioned

Braden Goellner

Cam Jones

Rachel Joseph

Darius Kipyego

Sanele Masondo

Said Mechaal

Thai Thompson

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics