NIACC's Kipkemboi earns ICCAC weekly honor

MASON CITY – Another day, another honor for NIACC's Melvin Kipkemboi.

A day after being selected as the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II cross country athlete of the week, Kipkemboi earned the ICCAC Division II cross country athlete of the week honor on Tuesday for the week of Sept. 20-26.

Kipkemboi placed fourth in the Maroon Division II race at the 35th annual University of Minnesota's Roy Griak Invitational on Friday.

Kipkemboi, the defending NJCAA Division II champion, covered the rainy 8k course on the Les Bolstad Golf Course in a time of 25:48 in a race made up mainly of NCAA Division II runners. His fourth-place finish in the Division II race was the highest ever by a NIACC men's runner.

NIACC's Wal Khat placed fifth in 26:18 in the Division II race in 2016 and Trent Smith placed ninth in 2012 in 25:55. Kipkemboi's time of 25:48.7 is the fastest ever by a NIACC men's runner at the Griak Invitational. The previous best time was Smith's 25:55 in 2012.

It is the second time this season and fourth time in his career that Kipkemboi has been selected as the ICCAC Division II cross country athlete of the week.

He also earned the award this season for the week of Aug. 30-Sept. 5 and won the award twice in his freshman campaign.