Iowa State Sweeps Big 12 Runner of the Week Awards

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State cross country athletes have swept the Big 12 Runners of the Week awards for the first time this season, announced by the league Tuesday afternoon. Joash Ruto and Mercyline Kirwa each earned their first weekly honors from the conference following their individual performances at the Gans Creek Classic last Friday.

Ruto, a sophomore from Nakuru, Kenya, finished as the individual runner-up in Columbia to lead No. 1 Iowa State to the team title, defeating then-No. 6 Virginia, 47-107. Ruto ran the 8K race in 22:32.0, averaging roughly 4:32 minutes per mile.

Kirwa, a freshman from Baringo, Kenya, helped the then-No. 27 Cyclone women make a statement at Gans Creek. Kirwa finished third individually to lead ISU to a seventh-place team finish. She ran the 6K race in 19:13.6, averaging 5:09 minutes per mile. The performance marked her first collegiate race.

Up Next

Following a three-week training block, Iowa State travels to Madison for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitation on October 17. The women's 6K is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. with the men's 8K to follow at 11:10 a.m.

Players Mentioned

Mercyline Kirwa

Joash Ruto

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics