JOPLIN, MO. -- The "Show Me" state proved a fitting stage on a cool and sunny Saturday morning for Nicodemus Naimadu's amazing run to collegiate sports history.
Rebounding from a month-long competitive layoff and rehab of an injured right knee, the Abilene Christian University distance-running star easily won his record fourth national individual title in men's cross country, propelling the Wildcats to a second consecutive NCAA Division II team championship.
Only four athletes had won three individual national titles in the sport, the University of Oregon's legendary Steve Prefontaine among them.
But Naimadu, the slender son of a Maasi father and Kalenjin mother back home in Narok, Kenya, bettered their feat as well as the field of runners in a meet hosted by Missouri Southern State University.
Naimadu ran 29:39.7 to pace a Wildcat team that scored 59 points and included junior Serge Gasore (30:19.5 for sixth), junior Julius Nyango (30:06.2 for 3rd), junior Philip Birgen (31:18.4 for 29th) and Amos Sang (31:18.8 for 30th).
Western (Colo,) State and Adams State finished in a tie for second with 66 points and Grand Valley (Mich.) State (152 points) was a distant third.
"The move he made with about a mile left in the race was unbelievable. He really put on a display," said ACU head cross country coach Derek Hood. "Nicodemus has such a big heart. He had to endure so much this year. During the last four or five weeks he trained so hard to be able to achieve this goal and to overcome injuries."
"I knew I had to stay with the leaders; I couldn't let them get away from me. They set an early fast pace. I just did my best to stay near the front. It was a very competitive race," Naimadu said. "When I moved ahead with a mile or more to go and nobody came with me, I believed I would win."
When Naimadu did run early this season, the Wildcats made headlines Sept. 29 by winning the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, which featured a field of primarily NCAA Division I competitors, including those from storied programs such as the University of Arkansas and host Oklahoma State University. However, Naimadu fell during the race, finishing second, and sat out the next three events.
Naimadu didn't compete in either the Lone Star Conference championship or NCAA Division II South Central regional, but the talented Wildcats didn't miss a step. Teammate Serge Gasore from Kigali, Rwanda, finished first in both meets and was named the region's Male Athlete of the Year by the United States' Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association.
Perhaps the ultimate compliment to Naimadu's dominance could be seen in the strategy of several NCAA Division II universities with traditionally strong programs which red-shirted competitors in 2007 in deference to the anticipated strength of Hood's talented and deep team.
Hard to blame them; Naimadu was undefeated in all seven cross country races in 2006. Arguably the top collegiate steeplechase runner in the U.S., Naimadu kept the Wildcats rolling into the spring, when they won the 2007 national outdoor track and field team title.
"I feel very happy and I feel very blessed to be able to win four times. There are some great runners in these races," Naimadu said.
"I can remember his first national cross country championship, which he won by a tenth of a second. When a reporter asked him what he was going to do next, his reply was, ‘Win three more'," said Texas Tech University cross country head coach Jon Murray, who discovered Naimadu while recruiting in Kenya in 2004 as ACU's head coach. "His domination of the past four national championships is a testimony to his willingness to work hard and make sacrifices. Nic has a great ability to make the difficult look easy."
In the women's national race Saturday, ACU freshman Winrose Karunda – running only her second meet of the year – finished second, leading her team to 216 points and seventh place. Her teammates included junior Mary Mwangi (21:21.8 for 18th), sophomore Loice Cheboi (21:36.3 for 28th), junior Hayley Garner (22:47.3 for 93rd) and junior Venessa Whittle (23:14.8 for 117th).
"We achieved our goals – conference championship, qualifying for the nationals and finishing in the top 10," said coach Hood. "I am so proud of these young ladies."
Adams State (63 points) won the women's national team title, while Seattle Pacific University was second with 178 points.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office .
