NIACC's Kipkemboi earns ICCAC weekly honor
MASON CITY - NIACC's Melvin Kipkemboi was selected as the ICCAC Division II men's cross country athlete of the week for the week of Oct. 25-31.
It was the fifth time in 2021 and seventh time in his career that Kipkemboi has won the ICCAC weekly award.
Kipkemboi was the NJCAA Region XI Division II individual champion for the second straight season in a school-record 24 minutes, 28 seconds in the 8-kilometer race. The old school mark of 24:49 was held by Wal Khat in 2016. Kipkemboi's old personal best was 24:50 at the Indian Hills Invitational on Oct. 15.
Kipkemboi was voted the 2021 NJCAA Region XI Division II runner of the year.
Kipkemboi's second individual regional title was the fourth in school history for the NIACC men. NIACC's Dan Mayer won the regional title in 2006 and Cody Manchester was the 2011 regional champion.
Kipkemboi and his Trojan teammates took home the NJCAA Region XI Division II team hampionship and will race in Richmond, Virginia on Nov. 13 to defend their NJCAA Division II national title. Kipkemboi will try to retain his individual national title, as well.
