AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn cross country senior Joyce Kimeli will make history on Saturday as she is set to race in her third career NCAA Championships meet, tying Angela Holman (2003-2005) for most trips by any runner, male or female, in program history.
"Joyce has done a really good job of getting herself in shape this semester," Tigers cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. "I am not worried about where she is at mentally. She is by far one of the most competitive people I have ever met. We're going to make sure she is in a good position to do her best this weekend."
This year's championships will be held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, a course that Kimeli and the Tigers are all too familiar with, having raced there twice already this season. Kimeli will begin the final cross country race of her storied career as the women's 6k is set to begin at 9:20 a.m. CT.
Last time on the course, Kimeli claimed 10th at Pre-Nationals in a field that very closely resembles this weekend's anticipated competition. She also claimed first on the course at Regionals in 2019 and fourth in 2018.
The Eldoret, Kenya native first qualified for Nationals in 2018, following up with another qualification 2019, notching a 14th place finish behind a time that she has already bested three times this season.
Of her four meets this fall, three of which have been 6k races, Kimeli has finished inside the top 10 in all of them and has improved her pace with each consecutive competition.
The 2021 Cross Country NCAA Championships will be broadcast live on ESPNU and can be streamed via ESPN.com. Live timing will be available via pttiming.com, and tickets to this year's event can be purchased for $10 by following the link here.