BOSTON – Returning to indoor competition for the first time since claiming the 5000m national championship, Auburn track & field senior Joyce Kimeli kickstarted the Tigers' indoor slate Saturday evening with a top-15 finish in the women's 5000m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, Massachusetts.
"Incredible early season atmosphere and opportunity this evening," Tigers distance coach Aaron Kindt said. "It was a stacked field from top to bottom, but we came in with a gameplan to challenge and stick with the leaders from the start. I thought Joyce did a great job handling the aggressive pace and making sure to stay connected and in rhythm – just not quite ready to finish off a race with that type of intensity at this moment. Today was a great learning experience that I hope pays off as we move into the new year."
Running a 15:43.39, Kimeli posted a time that was less than six seconds shy of the program's indoor record set by none other than Eldoret, Kenya native herself. The record, 15:37.82, came during the 2019-20 campaign also at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener.
Today's performance for Kimeli was also more than five seconds faster than her national title run last season.
Up Next
The Tigers head to Nashville, Tennessee as they are set to compete at the Vanderbilt Invitational Jan. 14-15, 2002, in their first team meet of the new season.
Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Boston, Mass.
Auburn Results (5000m)
14. Kimeli, 15:43.39
Starting indoor season with a bang 💥@joyce_kimeli crosses the finish line in 15:43.39, less than six seconds shy of her own school record! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/057w2oT9CG
— Auburn Track & Field (@AuburnTFXC) December 4, 2021