Team USA’s Leonard Korir Finishes 14th In 10k At Rio 2016

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College men’s cross country / track and field alum Leonard Korir ’12 finished 14th overall in the men’s 10,000-meter final in the 2016 Olympic Games at Estádio Olímpico João Havelange. The Maroon & Gold’s first American Olympian was the second Team USA runner to cross the line.

Korir’s time of 27:35.65 was his fastest in 2016 and his second fastest 10k ever following his Iona school record 27:29.40 set on May 1, 2011 at Stanford University. Korir adds another chapter to a story book 2015-16, where he enlisted in the United States Army, gained American citizenship and then qualified and competed in the Olympic Games.

Korir was Iona’s first ever NCAA Champion, accomplishing the feat twice in 2011 in the indoor 5,000-meter and outdoor 10,000-meter events and was an eight-time NCAA All-American.

In Rio, Great Britain’s Mo Farah out kicked Kenya’s Paul Tanui in the final 100-meters of the event to defend his 2012 gold medal to win in 27:05.17. Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola took the bronze medal. On the American side, former Oregon standout Galen Rupp was fifth overall, two and a half seconds behind the bronze performer. Korir’s Team USA and U.S. Army Elite Athlete Development Program teammate Shadrack Kipchirchir came in 19th place (27:58.32) among the 34 competitors in the field.

Iona’s third and final Olympian in the Rio Games competes tomorrow (Aug. 14) at 9:30 am as Denmark’s Anna Holm Baumeister takes part in the women’s marathon event. Check NBC, NBC Sports Network or NBCOlympics.com  for coverage of the race.

2016 Olympic Games

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Estádio Olímpico João Havelange

Men’s 10,000-meter final

August 13, 2016