Kurgat looks to repeat as champion in 5,000 and 10,000, in addition to becoming first Division 2 female athlete to complete distance double indoors and outdoors in same year

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

From unheralded to unprecedented, Alaska-Anchorage fifth-year senior Caroline Kurgat will conclude one of the most decorated careers by any collegiate distance runner this weekend at the NCAA Division 2 Outdoor Championships in Kingsville, Texas.

Kurgat, the defending champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, will attempt to become only the third female athlete in Division 2 history to win both titles in consecutive years.

Christie Allen of Pittsburg State was the first to accomplish the feat in 1992-93, with Kasia Arient of Lewis duplicating the achievement in 1997-98.

“It will be a great honor to get the title again this year in both the 5,000 and 10,000,” said Kurgat, who races Thursday night in the 10,000 final.

“It has been a great season already and I am hoping to finish even stronger.”

Kurgat arrived in Anchorage in 2014 after traveling from Kenya with the intent to study nursing. Her academic prowess initially far outweighed her athletic performance, as Kurgat wasn’t even the top runner in the Seawolves’ cross country lineup as a freshman.

She will conclude her final national championship Saturday as not only the most accomplished performer in program history, but the only athlete to rank in the top 15 all-time in Division 2 in the outdoor 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Kurgat swept all three titles May 10-11 in her final Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship meet at Western Oregon, increasing her career total to 12 conference crowns.

“This is an emotional moment for me. It’s hard to believe how quick five years goes by,” Kurgat said. “I appreciate every opportunity I have received through University of Alaska Anchorage for the past few years. It has been a pleasure wearing the UAA jersey. The opportunity they gave me means more than just a win. I always carry the pride of being a Seawolf. This is going to be another weekend to represent the Seawolves to my optimum best. I will miss competing at the GNAC, West Region and NCAA Championships.”

Kurgat arrives in Texas with five career national titles, including the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 titles in March in Kansas. She also won her first Division 2 cross country championship during her final season in 2017.

But perhaps her finest performance came March 29 in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational, when Kurgat eclipsed the Division 2 record that had been held by former Cal State L.A. star Sylvia Mosqueda since 1988 by more than 20 seconds, clocking 32:08.09.

Even more impressive than placing fifth in a race that featured American professionals Emily Sisson (30:49.57) and Molly Huddle (30:58.46), along with NCAA Division 1 All-Americans Allie Ostrander of Boise State (32:06.71) and Syracuse’s Paige Stoner (32:07.36), was that Kurgat didn’t even know if she was going to be able to compete two days prior to the race because of flu-like symptoms.

But as veteran Alaska Anchorage coach Michael Friess has said numerous times during Kurgat’s memorable run representing the Seawolves, “Belief, along with talent, goes a long way.”

Kurgat, who elevated to the No. 13 all-time collegiate 10,000 performer, attempted to go after the Division 2 outdoor record in the 5,000 in her next race April 18 at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University.

She already boasted the fastest indoor 5,000 in Division 2 history with her 15:28.46 performance Jan. 25 at the University of Washington Invitational, although it isn’t recognized as the record since the race occurred on an oversized track.

Kurgat followed with a personal-best 15:40.45 at Bryan Clay to place third behind New Mexico standouts Weini Kelati (15:23.46) and Adva Cohen (15:31.01), improving on her No. 3 all-time Division 2 outdoor mark and ascending to No. 68 in collegiate history.

Kurgat isn’t focusing Saturday on challenging the Division 2 outdoor 5,000 record of 15:33.83 held by former Shippensburg standout Neely Spence Gracey, rather the mission is just to secure another title in her final collegiate race.

“At this point it’s all about the championship,” Kurgat said. “It would have been great to get the record, but it’s not one of my major goals now.”

But Kurgat will have one last opportunity to add to her legacy in Texas, attempting to become the first female athlete in Division 2 history to sweep the 3,000 and 5,000 indoors, followed by the 5,000 and 10,000 outdoors in the same year.

Then the reigning Division 2 Honda Athlete of the Year — as recognized by the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards — will finally have an opportunity to reflect on her career and establish a new set of goals, both on and off the track.

“Our biggest focus now is definitely the championships. After the championship we will have a chance to plan the future,” Kurgat said. “I love both running and nursing. I am going to focus on running post-graduation. I am optimistic about the future and I am trusting God for more opportunities.”