NIACC's Kipkemboi, Vais win USTFCCCA awards
FORT DODGE - NIACC's Melvin Kipkemboi and coach Curtis Vais picked up a pair of awards from the USTFCCCA Friday night.
Kipkemboi was selected as the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II Central Region men's athlete of the year at the NJCAA national cross country virtual banquet. Also, Vais was selected as the Central Region men's coach of the year.
Vais, who is in his 17th season as coach of the Trojans and started the school's cross country program in 2004, guided the NIACC men to the NJCAA Region XI Division II title on Nov. 1. It was NIACC's first regional title since the Trojans claimed back-to-back regional crowns in 2011 and 2012.
Kipkemboi, a freshman from Kenya, claimed the NJCAA Region XI Divsion II individual regional title in a time of 25 minutes, 50 seconds on the 8-kilometer course at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge. Kipkemboi is the third NIACC men's cross country runner to win a regional title. NIACC's Dan Mayer won the regional title in 2006 and Cody Manchester was the 2011 regional champion.
Kipkemboi's personal best time of 25:17 at the Indian Hills Invitational on Oct. 16 ranks as the fourth fastest 8K time on school history.
The No. 2 NIACC men will compete at the NJCAA Division II national championships Saturday in Fort Dodge.
Kipkemboi's 2020 season:
Season highlights: Kipkemboi was selected as the ICCAC Division II male cross country athlete of the week for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 5 ... Kipkemboi was selected as the NJCAA Division II men's cross country runner of the week for the week of Sept. 7-13 ... Kipkemboi was selected as the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II men's cross country athlete of the week on Oct. 20 ... Was first-team NJCAA Region XI Division II selection (placed 1st in NJCAA Region XI Division II race) ... Was first-team all-ICCAC selection (placed 4th overall at NJCAA Region XI meet) ... Kipkemboi was selected as the ICCAC Division II men's cross country athlete of the week for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1 (2nd time) ... Was selected as the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II Central Region men's athlete of the year.
Grand View Open (5K) - 16:02 (3rd). Grand View Viking Invitational (8K) - 27:12 (7th). Trent Smith Invitational (8K) - 26:21 (2nd). Indian Hills Invitational (8K) - 25:17.5 (4th). NJCAA Region XI Division II meet (8K) - 25:50 (1st).
Personal bests:
5K - 16:02 (9-5-20)
8K - 25:17 (10-16-20)
