NCAA Final Re-Match and Redemption

Track fans all remember the epic finish between Stanley Kebenei and Anthony Rotich at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships that saw Kebenei fall off the final hurdle in mid-sprint against Rotich. 

 

The two steeplechase aficionados will return to claim NCAA glory this weekend at Hayward Field. 

 

UTEP’s three-time NCAA Champion has had a banner year, first finishing third at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile and returning to outdoor with a personal best in the 5K (13:31) and a season’s best of 8:39 in the steeplechase at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational. Prior to the NCAA West Preliminaries, Rotich had only run two steeplechases, both solo efforts with no challengers, and has barely scratched the surface of his potential over barriers this season. The NCAA Outdoor Championships should prove to be the perfect stage-setter for the reigning steeple champ. 

 

Although Rotich stands as the defending NCAA champion, Kebenei has broken out as a world class steeplechaser as seen from his performance at Payton Jordan. The Arkansas All American stole the show at the Stanford track, winning in 8:23 for a then-world lead and a new personal best that took down Bowerman Track Club’s Dan Huling at the line. Kebenei most recently cruised to an SEC Championship win in the steeplechase and a runner-up finish in the 5K. With a world class time under his belt, Kebenei is poised to return to Hayward with another ending to his NCAA Championship history. 

 

The Contenders

As seen from the fast times run at the NCAA Preliminaries, the men’s steeplechase has become even deeper in recent weeks with runners hitting breakthroughs at the perfect time in the season. 

 

Florida State’s Zak Seddon has been running consistent all season long, and most recently led Mason Ferlic, Jackson Neff, and Kyle King to new personal bests all under the 8:40 barrier in Jacksonville, Fla. Seddon tied his personal best at NCAA East, running 8:34, which is also the fastest time out of the NCAA preliminaries. Ole Hesselbjerg of Eastern Kentucky took heat two with a win in 8:36 and led Mark Parrish, Darren Fahy (both new PRs), and John Prizzi all under 8:43. And Edwin Kibichiy blasted an 8:39 to claim heat one of the men’s steeple. The west region may not have been as fast, but it saw several runners emerge with breakout performances as well, including new personal bests for Trac Norris, Bryce Miller, Dylan Lafond, and Meron Simon. 

 

With several runners in the 8:30 range and getting stronger every week, the men’s steeplechase will be a wide open battlefield for NCAA dominance.