UTEP’s Kibiego advances to steeplechase final at NCAA Track & Field Championships
AUSTIN, Texas - UTEP’s Victor Kibiego finished in the top five in the 3000-meter steeplechase semifinal one to automatically advance to Friday night’s final at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships hosted by Texas at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Kibiego placed fifth in the first semifinal, clocking in an 8:41.24.
The race started shaky with traffic amongst the runners, while Kibiego was in the back of the pack to begin.
But the freshman eventually broke into the top five just after the five-minute mark and sustained his place as a front runner.
Montana State’s Duncan Hamilton placed first (8:38.07), while Washington’s Ed Trippas (8:38.26), Virginia’s Nathan Mountain (8:38.31) and UCLA’s Peter Herold (8:38.63) rounded out the top five in the first semifinal race.
Eastern Kentucky’s Abdelhakim Abouzouhir (8:35.41) won the second semifinal and clocked in the top time overall.
Minnesota’s Matthew Wilkinson (8:35.69), BYU’s Kenneth Rooks (8:35.79), Virginia’s Derek Johnson (8:35.85) and Oklahoma State’s Victor Shitsama (8:36.27) rounded out the top five in the second semifinal.
Furman’s Carson Williams (8:39.92) and Syracuse’s Kevin Robertson (8:43.18) clocked in the next best two times to round out the final 12 runners.
Kibiego, along with the 11 other student-athletes, will compete for a national championship on Friday night at 7:24 p.m. MT/8:24 CT.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THURSDAY
The women will get started with Arianne Morais and Roosa Yloenen in the women’s javelin final starting at 5:45 p.m. MT/6:45 CT. F
or Yloenen, it will mark the final competition of her track and field career.
Marissa Simpson will race in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at 7:32 p.m. MT/8:32 CT.
FRIDAY’S SLATE
Jakub Belik will look to leap high in the men’s high jump final on Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 CT. Kibiego will compete for a national championships in the 3000m steeplechase final on Friday at 7:24 p.m. MT/ 8:24 CT.
The NCAA OTF Championships will be televised/streamed on multiple ESPN Platforms during the week.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thurs., June 8 – W Javelin final – 5:45 p.m. MT/6:45 CT – Arianne Morais & Roosa Yloenen
Thurs., June 8 – W 100m H semis – 7:32 p.m. MT/8:32 CT – Marissa Simpson
Fri., June 9 – M High Jump final – 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 CT – Jakub Belik
Fri., June 9 – M 3000m Steeplechase final – 7:24 p.m. MT/8:24 CT – Kibiego
Sat., June 10 – W 100m H final – 7:42 p.m. MT/8:42 CT – Simpson*
*if Simpson advances
