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UNM's Samuel runs fourth-fastest indoor 5,000 meters in collegiate history
UNM’s Habtom Samuel, who set an indoor program record in the 5,000 meters competing Feb. 1 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, set the collegiate record in the 5,000 on Thursday in California.
BOSTON — New Mexico’s sensational sophomore Habtom Samuel broke his own program record in the men’s 5,000 meters, running the fourth-fastest time in NCAA indoor history, at the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Saturday.
Samuel ran a 13:04.92, a nearly 10-second improvement on the UNM indoor record he set last season.
However, Samuel finished third in the race Saturday, trailing professional runner Jimmy Gressier (13:00.54) and Division II National Cross Country Champion Romain Legendre of Adams State (13:02.08). Legendre’s time ranks No. 3 on the NCAA All-Time list.
Lobo teammate Ishmael Kipkurui, a freshman, finished 16th in 13:22.03, which ranks as the third-fastest 5K in UNM history.
Also in Boston, UNM freshman Collins Kiprotich posted a 7:46.90 in the 3,000 meters, his best time and the second-fastest in UNM history. Colorado’s Isaiah Givens (7:45.01) was the quickest collegian in the race.
UNM runners also set program records at meets in Seattle and Albuquerque over the weekend.
In Seattle, UNM freshman phenom Pamela Kosgei won the women’s 3,000 meters at the UW Invitational Friday evening at Dempsey Indoor.
She clocked an 8:44.62, a new indoor program record and among the 10 fastest performances in NCAA history.
Kosgei finished nearly 16 seconds ahead of the next-fastest finisher.
Lobo junior Rebecca Grieve added to the 300-meter program record she set last week (37.81) with an indoor program record in the 600 meters at the UNM Team Open on Friday in Albuquerque. She ran the 600m in 1:26.91, which ranks No. 7 among NCAA performances all-time.
