Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Chris Rengifo is now in his second season as an assistant coach for the Eastern Kentucky University cross country and track and field program.

After serving as a graduate assistant for two years, the native of Woodbridge, Ontario became an assistant coach in 2013 and has been a key factor in the success of the EKU cross country and track and field teams ever since. 

During the 2013-14 season, Rengifo helped lead the EKU men's cross country team to its eighth consecutive OVC title, first NCAA Southeast Region title and a 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the best finish in program history.

Rengifo also helped two Colonels, senior Soufiane Bouchikhi and junior Ole Hesselbjerg, reach the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Hesselbjerg finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 8:38.75 to become EKU's first NCAA track medalist since 2008.

Academic success has also been at the forefront of the EKU cross country and track and field program since Rengifo joined the staff. Junior Thijs Nijhuis was named to the prestigious USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team in 2013, while junior Ann Eason was named a second team Capital One Academic All-American for 2013-14.

Rengifo competed at EKU from 2007-10 and was a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference country runner. As a senior in 2009, he finished fifth overall at the OVC Cross Country Championships and helped lead the EKU men to their fourth consecutive conference title. He also won the men’s 1,500 meters at the 2010 OVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships and was a member of the 4 x mile relay team that set an EKU record at the 2008 Penn Relays with a time of 16:39.47.