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BREAKING: Solomon Kipchoge, an NCAA XC Star & 59:37 Half Marathoner, Transfers to Washington State
The Stride Report has learned from Coach Wayne Phipps that Washington State has signed Solomon Kipchoge from the transfer portal. According to TFRRS, the 29-year old rising sophomore and the soon-to-be Cougar will have three years of eligibility remaining across all three seasons of competition. There is potential for him to have a full four years of indoor track eligibility.
Here is how we last described Kipchoge's resume when The Stride Report first announced that the former Texas Tech runner had entered the transfer portal...
"During his time at Texas Tech, Kipchoge's most notable performance on the track was a 13:35 (5k) clocking at the BIG 12 Outdoor Championships. However, the transfer prospect is best known for his jaw-dropping marks of 28:06 (10k roads) and 59:37 (half-marathon) that he ran during his time in Kenya."
"If there were any questions as to whether or not those latter two performances would translate to the collegiate cross country scene, Kipchoge answered with an emphatic "yes" last fall. That season, Kipchoge won the Arturo Barrios Invitational and the Mountain Regional XC Championships. However, he recorded a DNF result at the NCAA XC Championships despite being viewed as an individual national title threat."
"Kipchoge's ultra-aggressive front-running tendencies and overwhelming aerobic strength make him one of the most naturally talented long distance runners in the NCAA. However, it's clear that the rising sophomore is far better on the grass than he is on the track. It's also fair to say that his lack of consistency and still-developing understanding of tactics leaves him with plenty of room to grow."
"And yet, one can't deny that, at his very best, Kipchoge is one of the five-best cross country runners that the NCAA has to offer. If the greatest aspects of skillset can be put on display more consistently, then it wouldn't be a total shock to see the former Texas Tech runner eventually win a national title on the grass."
Washington State made headlines earlier this summer when it was announced that the program would be shifting to a "distance-focused approach." The Cougars are no longer expected to support field events while their investments in the sprint events will be limited.
By effectively going "all-in" on the distance events, the Washington State men and women are expected to be noticeably more aggressive in the collegiate recruiting space, something reflected in the signing of Kipchoge. That, in turn, should lead to the Cougars emerging as a national-caliber cross country team.
Evans Kurui is a Kenyan distance star who had a phenomenal first year with the Washington State men. Kurui was an All-American on the grass and further built upon his talent with a brilliant spring campaign. During the winter months, Washington State also signed D2 standout, Josphat Meli. The mid-year transfer would go on to run a jaw-dropping 10k time of 27:59 on the outdoor oval.
Now, by adding Solomon Kipchoge to their distance roster, the Cougar men appear to have three low-stick-caliber names for this fall. The former Red Raider gives Washington State a level of overwhelming firepower that could negate the pitfalls of the team's admittedly limited depth. That, however, requires all three of their top men performing at their best on the same day.
If one or two backend contributors such Kutoven Stevens (a transfer from Oregon), Evan Bruce, Grayson Wilcott, and maybe a few returning redshirts, are able to make a jump this fall, then Washington State could have a shot at qualifying for this year's NCAA XC Championships as a team.
