It’s no secret that fifth-year seniors Gilbert Kigen and Vincent Kiprop have carried the load for Alabama cross country over the past three years. Their combined list of accomplishments during their time at Alabama is staggering. 

Kigen was named a First-Team All-American in 2017 and a Second-Team All-American in 2018 and has won two NCAA regional titles as an individual runner. Kiprop has won two SEC Championships as an individual runner and has also been named as a First-Team All-American. 

This season, the dynamic duo has picked up the pace during the home stretch of the season. In the SEC Cross Country Championship in Lexington, Kentucky, Kiprop took home first place while Kigen finished second. The two repeated their performance as the top two runners at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, only with the order reversed – Kigen finished first, and Kiprop finished second.

Because of this excellence, it would make sense if the two had a fierce rivalry, as they consistently compete for first place despite both wearing crimson. That is not the case. The two runners have been roommates since enrolling at the University in 2017 and are friends off the field. 

“[Finishing first and second] happens sometimes,” Kiprop said. “Someone has to be No. 1 of course, and when we are 1-2, it’s like both of us being No. 1. We’ve been working together at practice and everything so it’s just a matter of who has a better time. It would be good for us to be in that position.”

Not only are these two roommates, competitors and teammates at the same time, but they also have very similar backgrounds. Both were born in Kenya and started out on a much smaller stage before making their way to Tuscaloosa. 

For two years, Kigen ran at Central Arizona College, where he was considered the most decorated runner in NJCAA history, winning two national championships. He embraced the opportunity to come to Alabama but acknowledged the challenges that came along the way. 

“Whenever you go to a new place, it’s hard to adjust and transition,” Kigen said. “I know there have been ups and downs. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many people.” 

During that same time period, Kiprop ran at Division II Missouri State University before transferring to Alabama.

This weekend, the runners’ decorated cross country careers will come to an end at the NCAA National Championship in Indianapolis. Kiprop will continue to run track in the spring, while Kigen’s time as a student-athlete will be finished. 

For Kiprop, this race represents the opportunity to finish his career with the dream he came to Alabama for: an opportunity to win a national championship.

“I feel like I haven’t achieved what I wanted to in the past,” he said. “I came here and wanted to win a national title, but I ended up finishing seventh [at nationals]. I was very disappointed, but of course, that’s what I had to do at the time. I don’t worry about what I’ve done in the past, but right now, the only thing in front of us is to win at the big stage, and that’s the national title. Doing that would put my team in the best spot, and that’s what I want to accomplish right now.”

While there are still personal accomplishments yet to be fulfilled, both runners will embrace their responsibility to serve as a leader for younger teammates. 

“Being one of the leaders of the team feels really good, always being a best teammate, always encouraging ourselves every day when we have practice, when we have workouts, and then when you have hard workouts,” said Kigen.

Kiprop added, “It’s always motivated me. Right now, we’re going up as a team to nationals. That means a lot to me. We get the opportunity to go out and compete against the best.”