Samoei claims 13th in 5,000

Staff report

ALLENDALE, Mich. — Eastern New Mexico University senior Isaiah Samoei finished his college career Saturday with a 13th-place finish in the men’s 5,000 meters at the NCAA Division II Championships.

On Thursday, Samoei finished eighth in the 10,000 meters.

Samoei, a native of Eldoret, Kenya, finished with a time of 14 minutes and 12.24 seconds, more than three seconds better than 14th-place finisher Sean Gildea from Colorado School of Mines.

The top three were separated by 1.54 seconds, as Adams State juniors Kevin Batt and Tabor Stevens finished in 13:59.22 and 13:59.96, respectively.

Southern Indiana sophomore Johnnie Guy, who won the 10,000-meter on Thursday, finished third at 14:00.76.

Samoei ends his ENMU career with five NCAA championship meet appearances, six Lone Star Conference Championship meet event wins and three All-American honors in track and field.

He also won the LSC championship twice in cross country and participated in the NCAA Championships in both of those seasons.