SEARCY – Harding University will have two representatives at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Junior Daniel Kirwa and sophomore Philip Biwott received invitations Wednesday to compete in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the national event, hosted May 27-29 by Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.
Kirwa, a native of Eldoret, Kenya, won the Division II national championship in both events in 2009. Two years ago, Kirwa won the 10,000 meters and placed second in the 5,000 meters. This season, he qualified automatically in both events. In the 5,000 meters, Kirwa broke his own school record with a time of 13:58.86 at Georgia Tech. He qualified in the 10,000 meters with a 29:24.09 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Kirwa has the sixth-fastest time in NCAA II in the 5,000 meters and third-fastest in the 10,000 meters among those that will be competing at nationals.
Biwott, also from Eldoret, Kenya, qualified 15th in the 5,000 meters with a season-best time of 14:25.79 at Rhodes College. His time of 29:54.02 in the 10,000 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays sent him to nationals ranked 13th.
Biwott will be making his second appearance at the national meet. Last season as a freshman, Biwott placed 10th nationally in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
