UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – The NCAA Division II cross country national championship will be held Friday, and Benedict's
Donald Kibet is hoping for a strong finish despite the cold and snowy conditions.
"I'm prepared mentally, and I'm feeling good, but it is super chilly," said Kibet on Thursday, just before a practice run over the Chambers Creek Regional Park course.
The men's championship will start at 10 a.m. local time, 1 p.m. Eastern. The race will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
Coach
Frank Hyland is optimistic that Kibet can become Benedict's third All-American with a top-40 finish.
"I'm excited for him. I think he'll do well," Hyland said. "He has two things against him. He's never run in the snow and the cold weather. But once he gets going, he'll be fine. He's just got to make sure he runs smart."
The weather forecast for University Place, Wash., calls for a high of 40 degrees on Friday. There were scattered snow flurries on Thursday.
Kibet dominated the SIAC during his freshman season, easily winning the SIAC championship meet by more than a minute. He finished fifth at the South Region meet with a personal-best time of 30:56.5.
"My preparation has been good since early August," said Kibet.
Hyland is hoping Kibet can become Benedict's third All-American. Emmanuel Kirwa finished 57
th overall in 2007, while Mathew Chesum finished 39
th in 2019. Dessie Demlew ran in two championships, finishing 78
th in 2015 and 55
th in 2014.
The 2022 championship is part of the NCAA Division II Fall Festival in Seattle, Wash., hosted by Seattle Pacific University and the Seattle Sports Commission. The Division II National Championships Festival is an Olympic-style event with six championships going on this week. Hyland and Kibet have been enjoying their time at the festival, and participated in the opening ceremonies on Tuesday night.
"Going to championships is always a great experience, but the festival is always a better atmosphere," Hyland said. "They really cater to the student-athletes. The whole experience has been an eye-opener for Donald. Now he wants to get the rest of his teammates here."
