Joash Ruto

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

Position:
Distance
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Nakuru, Kenya

Awards and Honors
First Team All-American (Outdoor: 3,000m Steeplechase - 2026, 2025)
Cross Country All-American (2024, 2025)
USTFCCCA XC All-Region (2025)
All-Big 12 XC (2024, 2025)
Big 12 XC Runner of the Week (Sept. 30, 2025)
Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (F25, S26)

Personal Records

Mile	4:00.67	2026 Indoor
3,000m	7:48.15	2026 Indoor
5,000m	13:40.73	2025 Indoor
	13:39.71	2025 Outdoor
3,000m SC	8:20.47	2025 Outdoor

2025-26
Outdoor: First Team All-American placing sixth at NCAA Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase with a season-best 8:25.14 … ran 8:25.58 in semifinals to qualify for the national final … won the steeple at NCAA West Prelims clocking 8:26.87, downing the Arkansas facility record that stood since 2002 … Big 12 steeple runner-up (8:35.51) … also placed 10th in the 5,000m at conference … won the steeple at the Cyclone Twilight (8:31.87) and Payton Jordan Invite (8:30.14) … anchored the 4x1600m to silver at Drake Relays.
Indoor: Took bronze in the 5,000m and also scored in the 3,000m placing seventh at Big 12 Championships … hit a 3,000m PR of 7:48.15 (No. 5 ISU) for ninth at the Husky Classic … nearly went sub four in the mile at the Cyclone Open with a PR of 4:00.67 for second …also ran at the DeLoss Dodds Invite and BU Season Opener.

XC: Competed in four meets...earned All-American honors with a 36th place finish at the NCAA XC Chmapionships and helping ISU get on the podium again(3rd place)... finished runner-up at the Midwest Regional Championships and fifth at the Big 12 XC Championships... also finished runner-up at the Gans Creek Classic, leading the Cyclones to a first-place team finish

2024-25
Outdoor: Placed fourth in the 3,000m steeple at NCAA Championships, breaking the school record for the third time with 8:20.47 and becoming ISU's fourth man to earn First Team All-America in the event ... headed to the national final as the fastest qualifier with a then-PR 8:22.94 ... qualified for nationals finishing second at NCAA West Prelims (8:28.86) ... Big 12 steeple silver medalist with a time of 8:25.42, breaking the school record for the first time ... also ran the 5K, finishing ninth in 13:39.71 ... Drake Relays champ in the 4x1,600m ... ran 8:27.22 for third in the steeple at Bryan Clay, his first time competing in the event.
Indoor: Scored in the 5K (13:57.39) placing eighth and placed 10th in the 3K (8:03.13) at conference ... set the eighth-fastest 5K performance in ISU history with 13:40.73 at the BU Season Opener ... had a 3K PR of 7:55.56 at the Tyson Invite ... went 4:03.89 in the mile at the Cyclone Open.
XC: Competed in two meets, helping the Cyclones to a NCAA Runner-Up team finish... ran 22:43.8 at the Big 12 Championships in his first action of the season, finishing 13th and earning all-conference honors... finished 34th at the national championship, earning All-America status with a time of 29:22.4 and helping ISU to its third top five finish at the NCAA Championships in the last four seasons.