Kirui claimed the crown after posting a winning time of 24:24.75 Saturday morning at the Ole Miss Golf Course, becoming the only runner in school history to be a two-time winner of the event. Kirui also captured the individual title in 2006 as a freshman and joined Pablo Sierra as the only two runners in school history to win the race. Kirui was also honored as the SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2006.
“We are very excited to see Barnabas win such an elite honor,” Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker said. “He had a great meet and a great season and we are extremely proud of him.”
Kirui enjoyed success throughout the season prior to his victory at the SEC Championships. The Kaplong, Kenya native opened the season by winning the Brooks Twilight Classic and setting a new course record with a time of 19:00.77 in the four mile run.
He went on to turn in a third place finish at the Greater Louisville Classic in the 8k with a time of 23:52.42. Kirui followed that by winning the Ole Miss/Samford Dual Meet by posting a new 5k course record time of 14:59.29. In his final meet before the championships, Kirui finished ninth at the NCAA Pre-Nationals with a time of 23:55.50 in the 8k and had the top time of any SEC runner at the meet.
Kirui and the Rebels return to action Nov. 14 when Ole Miss travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take part in the NCAA South Regional.
