Kimeli Caps Off Sophomore Season at NCAA Championship

[Hill, Jerry]

                                                                                                                                                                           BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – November 22, 2025

Kimeli Caps Off Sophomore Season at NCAA Championship
Running more than a minute faster than last year, Kenyan places in top half of 6K race
For more information contact: Jerry Hill; 254-709-4994, jerry_hill at baylor.edu<mailto:jerry_hill at baylor.edu>

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the mix for All-America honors at the midway point in Saturday’s 6K race at the NCAA Championship, Baylor sophomore Ruth Kimeli fell off her pace in the second loop of the Gans Creek Course and finished 112th in 20 minutes, 0.3 seconds.

Making her second-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, the Kenyan ran more than a minute faster than last year’s race in Madison, Wisc., and moved up 86 spots from her 198th-place finish a year ago.

While she finished shy of her career PR, Kimeli did run her fastest time in three visits to the Gans Creek course. Her previous best on this track was at the 2024 Gans Creek Classic, when she placed eighth in 20:12.3.

Able to get out in the field of 262 runners, Kimeli ran the opening 1,000 meters in 3:05.4 and was in 55th at the 3K mark in 9:35.4, less than eight seconds off a top-40 finish. But her time over the last 3,000 meters was 10:24.9 as she dropped back 57 spots.

Alabama’s Doris Lemngole was the repeat individual winner in 18:25.4, handing BYU freshman Jane Hedengren (2nd, 18:38.9) her first loss of the year. The Big 12 had five teams finish in the top 20, with BYU (2nd), West Virginia (9th), Oklahoma State (12th), Colorado (13th) and Iowa State (20th).

STAT OF THE DAY


9:35.4 – For comparison purposes, Kimeli’s time over the first 3K would rank as the 10th-fastest 3,000-meter time on the track in the history of the Baylor Track & Field program.

WHAT’S NEXT

After wrapping up her second cross country campaign, Kimeli and the Bears switch their focus to the indoor track season, which begins with the Corky Classic on Jan. 16-17 in Lubbock.

For the latest news on the Baylor cross country team all year long, follow its official Facebook, X and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.


Jerry Hill | Director of Sports Journalism (T&F/XC)

Department of Athletics | Baylor University

C: 254-709-4994



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