PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Wichita State student-athlete Winny Koskei has been named the Runner of the Year in the American Athletic Conference in a unanimous vote by the league's head cross country coaches, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
The distance phenom capped off the 2018 season with All-American honors finishing 35th at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 16 in Madison, Wis. The redshirt sophomore became the third Shocker in the Kirk Hunter era to earn All-American status.

"I'm really excited for Winny," Hunter said. "Her consistent performances at a high level led to this honor and others took notice. I'm really proud of her accomplishments and I'm excited to see what the future holds."

Koskei qualified for nationals with a third place finish in a personal best time of 20:23.0 on Nov. 9, the highest NCAA Midwest Regional finish since Aliphine Tuliamuk's second place finish in 2012.
 
The Kericho, Kenya, native claimed The American individual title with a time of 21:51.96 while leading WSU to its first team title since 2010.
 
On Sept. 25, she was named the American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week for her third place overall finish at the 30th Annual Chile Pepper Festival.
 
She finished the 2018 campaign completing six races, including four 6K's, one 5K and one 4K, setting a personal best time at each distance.
 
Koskei begins her indoor track season on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston, Ma., she enters a talented 5K field where many will attempt to obtain NCAA qualifying times.
 
Two-time conference champion Emmanual Rotich of Tulane was named the 2018 Men's Runner of the Year.
 
2018 PERFORMANCES
Sept. 1 : J.K. Gold Classic – 4K
Augusta, Kan.
2nd – 13:49.9
 
Sept. 22 : 30th Annual Chile Pepper Invitational – 5K
Fayetteville, Ark.
3rd – 16:36.5
 
Oct. 13 : Pre-Nationals – 6K
Madison, Wis.
11th – 20:28.9
 
Oct. 25 : American Athletic Conference Championships – 6K
New Orleans, La.
1st – 21:51.96
 
Nov. 9 : NCAA Midwest Regional – 6K
Peoria, Ill.
3rd – 20:23.0
 
Nov. 17 : NCAA Championships – 6K
Madison, Wis.
35th – 20:32.1
 
2018 ACCOLADES
American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week
American Athletic Conference Individual Championship
American Athletic Conference Team Championship
NCAA All-American
NCAA Midwest All-Region