TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After a first place finish last Friday at the NCAA South Regional, Crimson Tide graduate student Gilbert Kigen was selected as the NCAA South Region Men's Runner of the Year, the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) office announced Tuesday.

NCAA South Regional Men's Runner of the Year

Tuesday's announcement marks the second of Kigen's career (2017, 2019) and is the fourth regional runner of the year honoree for Alabama in the last five seasons, joining David Kimani (2000, 2001, 2002), Antibahs Kosgei (2015), and Alfred Chelanga (2018).

(2018). Kigen, a Kipkabus, Kenya, native won the individual title at the South Regional Championships when he crossed the 10K finish line at 29:49.5.

He also had an impressive showing at the SEC Cross Country Championships (Nov. 1) and at the Joe Piane Invitational (Oct. 4), where he finished runner-up both occasions.

Up Next

Kigen and the No. 26 Alabama men's cross country team will head to the NCAA Championships, Saturday, Nov. 23, at Indiana State's LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind.

For all the latest information on the team, follow AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can be found @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.