[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College freshman cross country runner Andrew Kibet continued to earn accolades from near and far.

Two days after becoming the third Blue Dragon to win a Region VI individual title, Kibet was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) NJCAA Division I National Runner of the Week for the third time this season.

On Saturday at the old Kansas Veterans’ Home in Winfield, Kibet tied a 42-year-old school record with an 8,000-meter time of 24 minutes, 1.8 seconds to win the Region VI individual title by more than 16 seconds and lead the Blue Dragons to their first regional team title since 1996.

This was Kibet’s fourth individual race championship of his freshman season.

Kibet was also named national runner of the week on Sept. 5 after winning the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic and on October 8 after winning at Emporia State.

Kibet is the only Blue Dragon to ever win a USTFCCCA National Runner of the Week Award.

Kibet and the No. 8-ranked Blue Dragons will next run at the NJCAA National Championships on Nov. 10 in Garden City at Buffalo Dunes Country Club.