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After winning her first NCAA title, New Mexicos Marion Jepngetich was named the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Womens Student-Athlete of the Year, the league announced Thursday via release.
The sophomore from Uasin Gishu County, Kenya finished the womens 5,000-meter final in 15 minutes and 13.01 seconds on June 13 at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Despite finishing second to Alabamas Doris Lemngole, Jepngetich was named the national champion after Lemngole was disqualified for a rules violation.
Jepngetich also claimed a Mountain West title in the outdoor 5K, finishing with a meet-best 15:22.06.
Im so happy, and Im proud of myself, she said in an interview with the Mountain West.
Air Forces Texas Tanner was named the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Mens Athlete of the Year after a season that saw him notch the second-best marks in NCAA history in the discus and hammer throw.
The Sheridan, Wyoming native finished national runner-up in the latter event at the NCAA outdoor championships.
On the shortlist Thursday, UNMs Habtom Samuel was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman, an award annually given to the best mens and womens student-athletes in collegiate track and field.
The junior from Keren, Eritrea claimed NCAA outdoor titles in the mens 5K and 10K earlier this month, capping a year that ranks among the best of any athlete in school history.
Before his distance-double, Samuel claimed the NCAA individual cross country title in November and claimed an indoor 5K national championship in March.
Between cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field, Samuel has claimed a program-best five NCAA titles.
He previously won the outdoor 10K national championship as a freshman in 2024.
Finalists for The Bowerman will be announced June 30.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal.
You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @lenaweereider.