JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After a breakout performance at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals, Justine Kipkoech of Eastern Kentucky cross-country has been named the ASUN Men's Runner of the Week as announced by the conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The Colonel rookie made a statement on Saturday with a third-place finish in the Men's 8K Championship Race - just his second ever race in NCAA competition. Kipkoech beat out almost 250 competitors en route to the podium finish, only being bested by previous national runner-up Habtom Samuel and defending national champion Graham Blanks.

The sophomore from Kenya clocked a time of 22:41.8, a new personal best. The mark beat out his previous best of 23:40.6 by almost a minute, set on the same course during the Nuttycombe Invitational in September where he finished 13th.

The honor is Kipkoech's and the squad's first on the season as they look ahead to the ASUN Cross Country Championship on Friday, Nov. 1. The men's squad will be hunting for their third-straight ASUN conference title.

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