Sports

Cross country’s Kiprop looks to build on 2017 success

The Lady Tigers cross country team looks to repeat it’s 2017 success, Naomi Kiprop is having a record-setting 2018 season leading the way for the Lady Tigers.
Kiprop is known for her hard work and dedication which has not gone unnoticed. She has already had two first place finishes, at the Louisiana Tech Mook Invitational and the Women’s 5K run during the Lois Davis Invitational. So far this season Kiprop has twice been named SWAC Athlete of the Week.
Hailing from Africa, by way of Eldoret, Kenya, Kiprop is set to leave her mark at Grambling State University. Being a student-athlete requires a high level of commitment and discipline in order to reach your maximum potential.
“A day in my life consists of going to practice and making sure that I attend my classes,” Kiprop said. “Even though the early morning practices can be hard at times, I have to have the discipline of making my education the main goal because this is the reason that I am here in the first place.”
Not only does Kiprop have a great spirit and a gifted runner, she’s also gifted in another area of her life as well. Education plays a important role in Kiprop’s success.
When  asked what is something special about her that students at Grambling should know, she cracked a smile.  
“The student body should know that I can speak five different languages,” Kiprop said. “I am fluent in Swahili, Keiyo, Marakwet, Pokot and English. I have known the first four languages for the majority of life, but coming to Grambling has made has me adapt more to the English language, as it’s the main language used in the United States.”
Although, Kiprop had a productive 2017 season, she has started off to an even more productive 2018 season and knows she still has to finish the season strong.
Kiprop’s teammates and coaches have played an important part in her success and have pushed her to reach the higher levels of competion  and helped her reach her goals as well as gain numerous accolades this season.
“I credit my coaches Bertram Lovell, and Primmecha Coates in helping me become the best that I can be and accomplish all the goals I had set out at the start of the season,” Kiprop said. “In addition, the support of my teammates plays a huge role in my success as well. Without them I wouldn’t be the athlete, runner or person that I am. My teammates push me every day in practice so I that I can perform at a high level at cross country meets.”
Kiprop is a sophomore majoring in nursing, with hopes of becoming a successful nurse.
“I just have to continue to work hard and [continue] to do the things which I did in the beginning of season to finish out the second half of the season strong and with great momentum,” Kiprop said.
The Grambling State Tiger’s Cross Country team concluded their regular season at the Mississippi College Invitational, Kiprop took home an fourth place finish with a time of 18:53.
GSU Cross Country and Kiprop looks to take the momentum from the end of the season into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)  Cross Country Championship in Clinton, Mississippi.