Geoffrey Kirwa Grabs World Lead, Joins Henry Rono As Only Collegian To Go Under 8:10 In Steeplechase; Elsingi Kipruto Wins Men's 10,000 Meters

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Will Nelson Photos

RESULTS

It's safe to say that Louisville distance running never had a night like this before. 

Thursday at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, Geoffrey Kirwa won the invitational men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a world-leading time of 8:08.10. 

Kirwa, a 26-year-old sophomore from Kenya, joined Henry Rono as the only collegiate men to run under 8:10 in the steeplechase. Back when Rono did it in 1978 it was a world record (9:05.4). 

Kirwa is the first college runner to put serious pressure on that record in 48 years. He was already the second-fastest collegian of all-time with the 8:13.89 he ran on the same track a year ago at Bryan Clay. 

In the same race, Titus Kimaru of Texas Tech became the sixth-fastest collegian of all-time by placing second in 8:18.26. Silas Kiptanui of Tulane was third in 8:25.16 and Jackson Shorten of Princeton was fourth in 8:26.75.

Soon after, Elsingi Kipruto, a 20-year-old freshman from Kenya, won the fastest section of the men's 10,000 meters in a meet record and school record time of 27:29.83. That made Kipruto the 10th-fastest collegian in history, knocking Stanford's Chris Derrick off the list. 

Kipruto's time broke the Louisville school record by 41 seconds. 

At a school that has yet to produce as sub-four miler, Kirwa and Kipruto are the two best distance runners in school history. Kirwa was the NCAA runner-up in the steeplechase last year. 

Notre Dame senior Sophie Novak knocked 16 seconds off of her personal best to win the invitational women's steeplechase in a meet record time of 9:24.95. That broke a Lexy Halladay-Lowry record from last year by a second and a half. 

BYU's Taylor Lovell was second in 9:26.99.

Alabama freshman Caren Kiplagat, who was ninth in the NCAA Indoor 5,000 meters final last month, won the fast section of the women's 10,000 meters in 31:40.74. She won by 11 seconds over Mercyline Kirwa of Iowa State (31:51.89). Kiplagat also broke the Alabama school record, held by Hilda Olemomoi (31:51.89 in 2024).