2 DAYS AFTER winning the 10,000, New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei returned to the Hayward oval attempting to pull off a double that had only been achieved 7 times in meet history. The Kenyan frosh lined up for the 5000 as the collegiate leader — and second-fastest of all time — with her 14:52.45 from April.
The early pace was conservative. Kosgei’s teammate/countrywoman Marion Jepngetich, who won silver in the 3000 at last year’s World U20 Champs, led a massive pack through the first kilometer in 3:21.58. The tempo picked up from there, but at 3000 (9:35.71 for Jepngetich) most of the runners were still in contention. Jepngetich and Kosgei continued to run side-by-side up front and finally, with 4 laps to go, they began to gradually string out the field.
Among those consistently near the front were 10,000 runner-up Grace Hartman of NC State, Clemson’s Silvia Jelelgo, Arkansas’ Paityn Noe and Stanford’s Sophia Kennedy, who had been 5th at the Indoor.
At the bell, 15 were still in striking distance. Kosgei begin her kick down the final backstretch, but it was far from decisive. Jepngetich and Hartman remained right on her heels, while Boston U’s Vera Sjöberg, 11th in the 1500 earlier in the day, swung wide and moved into contention.
Kosgei covered her last lap in 64.48, which was enough to bring her home 1st in 15:33.96. Sjöberg (15:34.77) closed well for 2nd. Kennedy (15:35.08) passed Jepngetich (15:35.14) just before the line for 3rd, and Hartman (15:35.39) took 5th.
“I said [to myself], ‘Let me try my best, maybe to push on the straight and maybe I will win,’” said Kosgei, who finished 2nd at the NCAA Cross Country last fall and followed up with a 3rd in the Indoor 5000 in March. “[My strategy] was just to stay with them. Then for the last lap I said, ‘Let me try at least to push… If I will win it’s fine. If I will not win it’s fine.’”
She joins Florida’s Parker Valby (’24), Arkansas’ Dominique Scott (’16), Iowa State’s Lisa Koll (’10), Arizona’s Amy Skieresz (’97 & ’98), Wisconsin’s Stephanie Herbst (’86) and NC State’s Betty Springs (’83) as the only women to pull off the grueling double.
WOMEN’S 5000 RESULTS
(June 14)
1. ***Pamela Kosgei’ (NM-Ken) 15:33.96 (64.47, 2:15.20, 4:42.40);
2. *Vera Sjöberg’ (BU-Swe) 15:34.77 (64.39, 2:15.20, 4:42.44);
3. **Sophia Kennedy (Stan) 15:35.08 (64.63, 2:15.85, 4:43.07);
4. ***Marion Jepngetich’ (NM-Ken) 15:35.14 (65.56, 2:16.43, 4:43.62);
5. *Grace Hartman (NCSt) 15:35.39 (65.71, 2:16.43, 4:43.75);
6. **Paityn Noe (Ar) 15:35.81 (65.59, 2:16.81, 4:44.11);
7. *Agnes McTighe’ (NnAz-Swi) 15:35.87 PR (64.48, 2:15.69, 4:43.21);
8. Amina Maatoug’ (Wa-Neth) 15:35.93 PR (65.06, 2:16.30, 4:43.73);
9. **Silvia Jelelgo’ (Clem-Ken) 15:36.34; 10. *Alex Millard’ (Prov-GB); 11. *Jenna Hutchins (BYU) 15:40.87; 12. *Maelle Porcher’ (IaSt-Fra) 15:41.76; 13. Margot Appleton (Va) 15:44.76; 14. Chloe Scrimgeour (Gtn) 15:46.18; 15. ***Isca Chelangat’ (OkSt-Ken) 15:48.66; 16. *Florence Caron’ (PennSt-Can) 15:49.72; 17. *Zofia Dudek’ (Stan-Pol) 15:53.91; 18. ***Rachel Forsyth’ (MiSt-Can) 15:57.28; 19. *Julia David-Smith’ (Wa-Fra) 15:59.27; 20. Samantha Bush (NCSt) 16:01.47; 21. ***Brenda Jepchirchir’ (Aub-Ken) 16:01.99; 22. **Ava Mitchell (NnAz) 16:06.32; 23. *Sadie Sigfstead’ (Vill-Can) 16:06.70; 24. ***Edna Chelulei’ (EnKy-Ken) 16:24.97.
