CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Freshman Gilbert Kirui and sophomore Brandon Allen led the Iona College men’s outdoor track team at the 2015 Virginia Challenge hosted by the University of Virginia. Kirui was fourth overall in the 5,000-meter event while Allen set a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in his 14th place finish.
Kirui’s time of 14:00.65 was less than eight seconds behind the race winner. Jacob Thomson from North Carolina State (13:52.71). Campbell’s Lawrence Kipkoech (13:53.97) and Michigan State’s Caleb Rhynard (13:58.35) took second and third. Kirui clocked the 16th fastest time in the East and ranks 55th on the 2015 NCAA Championship qualifying list. It was also an Iona freshman record and the 13th fastest time in school history. Freshman Andrew Tario finished 13th in the 5k in 14:17.77.
Allen’s school record time in the 3k chase was 8:57.38. It was nearly a second and a half faster than teammate Xavier King’s 8:58.74 from last season’s Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton. King finished 19th in the same event in Virginia, clocking a 9:11.88. Allen’s time ranks 16th fastest in the East and 54th on the NCAA outdoor list this season.
Also earning Top 30 finishes at the Virginia Challenge were freshman Liam Dee in the 1500m (21st, 3:47.51), sophomore Ross Wightman in the steeple chase (9:49.39) and junior Otis Ubriaco in the 5k (14:44.43).
Virginia Challenge
Charlottesville, VA – Univ. of Virginia
Apr. 17-18, 2015
Iona Competitors:
800: Reed Kochanek, 39th, 1:54.77. 1500: Liam Dee, 21st, 3:47.51; Brandon Allen, 39th, 3:52.35; Xavier King, 49th, 3:54.21; Mike O’Dowd, 70th, 4:02.53. 5k: Gilbert Kirui, 4th, 14:00.65; Andrew Tario, 13th, 14:17.77; Otis Ubriaco, 29th, 14:44.43; Johannes Motschmann, 36th, 14:59.90; Andy Adamovics, 43rd, 15:12.84; Quinn Raseman, 44th, 15:14.90. 3k chase: Brandon Allen, 14th, 8:57.38; Xavier King, 19th, 9:11.88; Ross Wightman, 27th, 9:49.39.
