Kiprop Kipngok Named SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a record-setting weekend in Palo Alto, Calif. at the Stanford Invitational, Kentucky Collins Kiprop Kipngok has been named SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week, per the release from the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

This week’s honor features Kiprop Kipngok’s second SEC Freshman of the Week award this season. The Kenya-native claimed his first collegiate honor on Oct. 1, winning SEC Cross Country Freshman of the Week. The award also features as the Wildcats’ third SEC weekly honor of the 2024-25 track and field season, with both Kate Powers and Sharmelle Holmes earning SEC Indoor Field Athlete of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, on Jan. 21.

Kiprop Kipngok set a new Wildcat record in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final, finishing second with a personal-best 8:22.67 time at the Stanford Invitational. That time currently ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 1 in the SEC. His record-breaking performance in Palo Alto featured as Kiprop Kipngok’s fourth record in just his first collegiate season, including three UK freshman records during the indoor season. The Wildcat freshman broke the UK men’s indoor mile, 1500m and 3000m records in consecutive meets prior to the start of the outdoor season.

Kiprop Kipngok and the Wildcats will continue the outdoor portion of the 2024-25 schedule with the Tom Jones Memorial Invite on the horizon, slated for Apr. 18-19 in Gainesville, Fla.

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