GAC Announces 2025 Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the results of its 2025 GAC Track & Field Coaches' Poll, with the East Central University men's team selected to finish fourth and the women's team selected to finish seventh.
Harding earned five first-place votes from the league's head coaches, securing the men's preseason favorite spot, while Oklahoma Baptist received seven first-place votes to be named the women's preseason favorite.
At last year's GAC Championships, ECU's
Peter Kipkemboi had an exceptional performance, winning three events—the 800m, 1,500m, and 5,000m—to earn MVP honors. Along with Kipkimboi,
Aspel Kiprob and
Paul Korir each set new GAC Championship records in the 5,000m, 1,500m, and 3,000m steeplechase, respectively.
All three athletes represented ECU on the national stage, with Kiprob finishing seventh overall in the 3,000m steeplechase to claim All-American honors, while Korir finished 11th. Kipkemboi placed 13th overall in the 5,000m race.
On the women's side, the Tigers recorded five top-5 finishes at the 2024 GAC Track & Field Championships, four of which earned All-GAC First Team honors.
Naomy Limatukei and
Damaris Chewon secured second and third place, respectively, in the 10,000m, with times of 36:46.40 and 37:09.23. Limatukei followed up with another strong performance, finishing second in the 5,000m at 17:40.91, with
Aurelia Jepkorir placing third and Chewon finishing fourth. Limatukei also clinched a top-10 finish in the 1,500m race, securing ninth place with a time of 4:49.50.
High jumpers
Kaylyn Cotner and
Zoe Grooms represented ECU in the field events, both achieving a mark of 1.51m to tie for seventh place.
In addition to her athletic success,
Madison Ham also excelled academically, earning the title of Elite Scholar Athlete for maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA with 70 or more credit hours.
The ECU Track & Field Team will begin its 2025 season at the end of March.
