June 12, 2015
RESULTS
Eugene, Ore. -- Anthony Rotich outdueled Stanley Kebenei (Arkansas) Friday evening at Hayward Field to claim his third-consecutive 3,000m steeplechase national title.
"This one was a little different from what I had been doing every year," Rotich said. "This one I had to run by myself after one of my friends fell down. I did not have an option."
"The prophecy is fulfilled," distance coach Paul Ereng noted. "This is the most wonderful victory he's had. A lot of people were trying to put pressure on him and he came through."
In a race that featured a couple of falls, Rotich and Kebenei separated themselves from the pack with about 600m (one and a half laps) left to go, and it turned into an old-fashioned sprint to the finish line. After clearing the last hurdle, Rotich was able to hold off Kebenei and took gold with a season-best time of 8:33.90. This is the second year in a row that Rotich has knocked off Kebenei.
"My plan was to stay in the race until the last 800m, but when one of the guys fell down, I didn't have an option," Rotich said about the race. "I had to take it. I didn't think it was possible, leading the race that much."
With this win, Rotich becomes only the third athlete in NCAA history to win three-straight 3,000m steeplechase national titles. James Munyala (1975-77/UTEP) and Daniel Lincoln (2001-03/Arkansas) were the only two other runners to complete this feat.
Rotich has now recorded a total of 33 points in the 3,000m steeplechase during his career. During his freshman year, he finished sixth (three points) and over the last three years he has collected 10 points per year with each title. That point total of 33 ranks second all-time in NCAA. James Munyala (UTEP) accumulated 38 points during his career.
UTEP, as a program, has the most titles of any school in the 3,000m steeplechase with ten. (James Munyala-3, Anthony Rotich-3, Jim Svenoy-2, Kerry Pearce-1 and Mircea Bogdan-1). "At UTEP, whenever you're trying to do something, someone has done it before," Rotich said. "I made an addition to UTEP. I'm so happy for that because of my coach."
Head coach Mika Laaksonen echoed Rotich's and Ereng's thoughts. "It was a story book ending! I just knew that nothing was going to get past Anthony after he got over that last barrier. He wanted it more, and the size of his heart showed."
Samantha Hall, a junior discus thrower, will be the last athlete to compete for the Orange and Blue at the NCAA Championships tomorrow. Hall is slated to begin the discus event at 2:35 p.m. (MT).
