Kenyan, Ishmael Kipkurui, bettered the NCAA 10,000 metre record; several personal bests were set

The idiom, “when its good, its good,” applies to the Sound Running meet named The Ten that took place Saturday. Good non-global championship 10,000 metre races can be hard to find. Therefore, running a 10,000m record can be challenging because of the scarcity of competitive events. The Ten provided that opportunity in San Jaun Capistrana, California, near Laguna Beach.

A 10,000 metre NCAA record

Kenyan Ishmael Kipkurui bettered Nico Young’s NCAA 10,000-metre record at the meet.

The 20-year-old clocked in a 26:50.21 performance. Young’s record was set at 26:52.72 on the same track in the same meet last year.

A group of five athletes were together with 400m to go.

26:50.21 😳

Ishmael Kipkurui of @UNMLoboXCTF breaks the NCAA record in the men's 10,000m at @sound_running's The TEN.

It was previously set by Nico Young at The TEN in 2024 where he ran 26:52.72.#TheTEN pic.twitter.com/gPafobleeb

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 30, 2025

At the bell, South African record holder Adriaan Wildschutt (26:50:64) was leading. Eritrean, Habtom Samuel, the reigning NCAA 10,000m champion, was in second place. Ethiopian Telahun Haile Bekele sat in third. Kipkurui, positioned in fourth, was ready to unleash his kick at the bell. He took the lead and sprinted the final 90m hard for the win.

Samuel finished second in the time of 26:51.06. Wildschutt took third clocking a 26:51.27 performance. Bekele finished fourth in 26:52.79.

Personal bests

There were a number of personal bests set at the meet, including 22-year-old American Graham Blanks clocking a 26:57.30 performance. India’s Gulveer Singh ran a new PB in the time of 27:00.22. Canadian marathon runner Rory Linkletter smashed his personal best, going under 28 for the first time and finishing in third position in the first heat in 27:48. American Anthony Camerieri improved his best, finishing second in that race in 27:45.82.

Americans Katie Camarena, Claire Green and Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge all set new bests to go 1-2-3 in the first 10,000m heat, clocking 31:45.79, 31:49.29 and 32:31.16, respectively. Calli Hauger-Thackery set a new best recording a third-place 30:53.73 in the second heat.

Canadian Ally Ginther set a new PB in the women’s 10,000m, going under 34 for the first time with her 33:33.52 run.

Abby Nichols won the women’s 1500m, finishing in 4:11.91.

Moroccan Fouad Messaoudi took the men’s 1500m clocking 3:35:55, and Ellis Cross ran 27:43.15 for the win in the men’s first 10,000m heat.

All the 10,000m runners needed was an opportunity.

The complete results are below.

Results

Women

Women’s 1500m

Women’s 10000m Heat 2

Women’s 10000m Heat 1

Men

Men’s 1500m

Men’s 10000m Heat 1