Ed Bird, Collins Kiprop Kipngok Earn All-SEC Laurels
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two Wildcats were named to the All-Southeastern Conference Cross Country Teams, the league announced Monday. Ed Bird earned All-SEC Third Team recognition while Collins Kiprop Kipngok nabbed a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Honors were based on runner’s finishes at the 2024 SEC Cross Country Championships last Friday, with the top seven finishers earning First Team honors. Finishers eight through 14 were named to the Second Team, while runners who finished between 15th and 21st place earning Third Team nods. 2024 marks the debut of the All-SEC Third Team. The top seven freshmen finishers were named to the All-Freshman team.
Bird, a sophomore from Dorchester, England, United Kingdom, earned All-SEC Third Team honors after finishing in 18th place at the 2024 SEC Cross Country Championships in Bryan-College Station, Texas on Friday. Bird ran his 8k race in a time of 23:07.7, one-tenth off his personal best. Earlier this season, Bird earned the first individual title of his Cross Country career at the Gans Creek Classic in September, taking the 8k title in 23:07.6.
Kiprop Kipngok has enjoyed a successful freshman campaign, earning All-Freshman Team honors by virtue of his 24th place finish at the conference meet last weekend—good enough for sixth among all freshman runners. His 8k time of 23:19.4 lowered his personal best by over 13 seconds. During his first regular season campaign, the Nakuru, Kenya native earned three top-15 finishes—highlighted by his first career collegiate win at the Bradley Pink Classic in October.
The Kentucky men placed tenth in the team standings at the SEC Championships. The Kentucky women finished in 15th, led by Ally Kruger’s 25th place individual finish.
The Wildcats will continue their postseason run next weekend, running at the annual NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on Friday, November 15th. The race—which features a 6k women’s course and a 10k men’s course—will be hosted by Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. The top two teams and four-fastest non-advancing individuals will qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wis. on November 23.
