Kirwa Remains Undefeated in 10,000

By Amanda Pruitt

Sophomore Daniel Kirwa has qualified for nationals in the 1,500, the 5,000 and the 10,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Harding sophomore Daniel Kirwa cruised to a victory in the 10,000 meters, finishing nearly a minute ahead of the competition at the Drake Relays on Thursday evening.

Kirwa, the NCAA II defending national champion in the event, won Thursday's race in an automatic national qualifying time of 29 minutes, 42.05 seconds.

Matt Mroczynski of Illinois State finished a distant second in 30:35.01. Eliot Krause, the third-place runner, did not cross the line until 31:16.25, more than 90 seconds after Kirwa.

Kirwa has not lost the 10,000 in three career races, all of them against some of the steepest competition in the country. Last year, Kirwa qualified for nationals by winning at the Mt. SAC Relays, running in a school-record 28:36.23. He won the national title in 29:14.74.

Earlier this season, Kirwa provisionally qualified in the 1,500 at the Bison Invitational and in the 5,000 at the Ole Miss Invitational. Kirwa, who is also the school-record holder in the 5,000, finished second in the event at nationals last year.

Print Friendly Version