Collins Kiprop Kipngok Named SEC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following his gold medal performance at the conference championships, Kentucky’s Collins Kiprop Kipngok has been named the 2025 SEC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year, per the release from the conference office on Monday.

Kiprop Kipngok followed up his performance at the SEC Championships with another top-place finish at the NCAA East First Rounds in the men’s 3000m steeplechase quarterfinal, winning the event with an 8:24.91 time, punching his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Earlier this year, the Wildcat freshman broke the UK steeplechase record at the Stanford Invitational on Apr. 4 with an 8:22.67 time, breaking the previous record by nearly 20 seconds and earning him SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week honors.

Along with his steeplechase record, he owns four other Kentucky program records in just his first collegiate season, including the indoor mile, 3000m and 5000m freshman records as well as the outdoor 1500m and steeplechase freshman records. Heading into the NCAA Championships, Kiprop Kipngok owns the best men’s steeplechase time in the SEC, as well as the fourth-best time in the NCAA.

Kiprop Kipngok and 21 other Wildcats will represent Kentucky in closing out the 2025 season this week at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. at Hayward Field on June 11-14.

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