Baylor XC Freshman Phenom Ruth Kimeli Qualifies for NCAA Championship

[Hutton, Josie]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Nov. 15, 2024

Baylor XC Freshman Phenom Ruth Kimeli Qualifies for NCAA Championship
Kimeli becomes first Baylor woman to individually qualify since 2017
For more information contact: Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The freshman phenom Ruth Kimeli continues to make her impressive run as she brought out all the stops at the NCAA South Central Regional at the Watts Cross Country Course on Friday morning. Kimeli paced herself for a career-best podium finish of fourth place and a personal-best time of 19:28.1 in the 6k to become the first Baylor woman in seven years to qualify individually to the NCAA National Championship.

The freshman from Kenya became just the second female freshman in program history and 10th female overall in program history to earn an individual qualification. The last XC freshman to qualify for Baylor to the national championship was in 2010.

THE RUNDOWN
Never being lower than eighth place, Kimeli remained in the top-10 throughout the entirety of the 6k race. Her overall time of 19:28.1 in the 6k was just 33 seconds shy of the top runner and only four and six seconds shy of finishing in third and second respectfully.

Overall, Kimeli paced the Baylor women to an 11th place finish with five Bears earning PB times. Ella Perry, earning a PB time of 20:58.8, finished as No. 2 in 54th place. Following was Jackie Addy who PR'd with a 21:46.8 time. Jordan Ledington finished at No. 4 and Rosanna Pugh at No. 5 with her PB time of 22:36.4. Anna Garner and Alaina Zamorano finished behind the top five to close out the team’s 2024 season.

On the men’s side, four Bears competed in the 10k competition. Jack Sterrett finished at the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive meet in 88th place with a 32:08.8 time to conclude his freshman XC season. Devin Duran earned the No. 2 spot and Nolan Keenan at No. 3. Nick Hruskoci wrapped for the Baylor men.

WHAT’S NEXT
Kimeli will travel to Verona, Wisconsin to compete in the NCAA XC National Championship at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course on Saturday, Nov. 23 to close out the 2024 XC season.

- BaylorBears<http://www.baylorbears/>.com -



Josie Hutton | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (FB, T&F/XC, MTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: (254) 709-7720

[signature_2230589939]<http://www.baylorbears.com/>


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20241115/3c9385cb/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 12353 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20241115/3c9385cb/attachment-0001.png>