Chepkoech Named Big 12 Cross Country Women’s Runner of the Week

TEMPE, Ariz. – The storybook start to her Sun Devil career continues.

Judy Chepkoech, fresh off winning the 2.5 mile race in a course-record 14:09.51 at the season-opening George Kyte Classic, has been named the Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

It marks the first weekly conference honors a Sun Devil student-athlete has won in the Big 12 era.

Full release from the Big 12

“Judy breaking the course record while competing against the No. 1 ranked Women’s team in the nation was special to see,” head coach Ryan Ray said. “She showed that she is ready to compete at the highest level of the Big 12 and the NCAA. I couldn’t be more happy for her and I was proud to see the pitchfork out front and leading the way.”

And she made it look EASY ?? pic.twitter.com/sla1W9UyG2

— Sun Devil Track and Field/XC (@SunDevilTFXC) August 31, 2024

In her collegiate debut, the Sun Devil freshman paced the Women’s field at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff with ease. Chepkoech cleared Northern Arizona’s Nikita Moore, one of the best in the Big Sky Conference, who finished runner-up at 14:28.6.

Chepkoech, whose individual title was the first for the Sun Devils at this meet since Chelsea Trotten in 2015, helped the Sun Devil Women place third behind Northern Arizona and Nevada.

ASU FINISHES AT THE GEORGE KYTE CLASSIC

1) Judy Chepkoech, ASU (14:09.5/ASU debut)

13) Evaline Chepkoech, ASU (15:11.5/ASU debut)

26) Kylie Miller, ASU (16:21.3)

27) Kate Miller, ASU (16:25.3)

28) Kayla Case, ASU (16:27.3)

29) Mia Chavez, ASU (16:27.9)

34) Jordan Lee, ASU (16:55.0/ASU debut)

42) Ashley Tarasenko, (18:50.9/ASU debut)

2024 BIG 12 RUNNERS OF THE WEEK

Men’s Runner of the Week

Patrick Kiprop, Cincinnati, Fr. (Sept. 3)

Women’s Runner of the Week

Judy Chepkoech, Arizona State, Fr. (Sept. 3)

UP NEXT

The Sun Devils have three weeks until they’re back in action at the UCR Invite in Riverside, California, on September 21, marking the second of four regular season meets this fall. Keep up with the team via their social media accounts, @SunDevilTFXC.

REMAINING 2024 SCHEDULE

UCR Invite, Sept. 21 (Riverside, Calif.)

Dave Murray Invite, Sept. 28 (Tucson, Ariz.)

Arturo Barrios Invite, Oct. 18 (College Station, Texas)

Big 12 Championships, Nov. 1 (Waco, Texas)

NCAA West Regionals, Nov. 15 (Colfax,…