CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Matro Jepkemboi's historic freshman campaign came to an end on Saturday morning at the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Jepkemboi finished her first season as one of the best freshmen in the country and the Western Athletic Conference, finishing 85th overall in the 6k with a time of 20:33.8.
Amongst competing freshmen, Jepkemboi finished the 12th highest and was the third highest finisher amongst freshmen running as an individual qualifier and not part of a qualifying team. The reigning WAC Freshman of the Year was the third best finisher amongst her fellow WAC student-athletes, finishing behind California Baptist's Yasna Petrova (45th – 20:08.2) and Utah Valley's Morgan Nokes (68th – 20:28.5).
"She put up a great fight, got out there and gave it her best effort," said Head Coach John Sauerhage. "It was a great season and a tremendous experience for her."
Through 5000m, Jepkemboi was coasting to a top-50 finish with a time of 16:52.1 and sitting in 46th place until the final 1000m.
Jepkemboi's 85th place finish is the best since Jodi Hulett finished 120th with a time of 22:18.3 back in 2006.
– #BuckEm –
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