UAA's Kurgat honored by Alaska Legislature

University of Alaska Anchorage student-athlete Caroline Kurgat was honored with a legislative citation from the state of Alaska Wednesday.

Representative Andy Josephson, whose district includes the University of Alaska Anchorage, presented the award to Kurgat for her accomplishments in the sports of cross country and track and field.

"Today, the 31st Alaska Legislature recognizes Caroline Kurgat for her many accomplishments in cross-country running and track & field, including multiple Division II NCAA titles," said Representative Josephson. "Ms. Kurgat brought great honor and distinction to the University of Alaska-Anchorage's athletic program. We wish her good luck in her continuing career in nursing and athletics."

The citation, signed by Bryce Edgmon, Speaker of the House, Cathy Giesel, President of the Senate, and Representative Andy Josephson, who sponsored the citation, reads:

The members of the Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature congratulate Caroline Kurgat for her outstanding athletic ability and dedication to excellence.

A senior in the nursing program at University of Alaska Anchorage, Caroline has been one of the most dominating distance runners in the NCAA system in recent years. Caroline has worked closely with her coaches to balance her rigorous academic schedule with a careful training regime. Her concentrated effort and patience have allowed her to train to her full potential and to improve her times substantially through her career.

Hailing from Eldoret, Kenya, Caroline did not start running until after she graduated high school in 2012. After two years of recreational running tin her home country, University of Alaska Anchorage offered her a scholarship, and in 2014 she moved across the globe to Anchorage. Caroline now not only leads her team but also the country in distance statistics and times. In the past year, Caroline has achieved a myriad of personal records.

So far, 2019 has been an eventful year for Caroline; two of her personal records have also become national records. In January at the University of Washington Indoor Preview, she set the NCAA Division II record for the 3,000-meter race, with a time of 9 minutes, 7.05 seconds. In March, at the Stanford Invitational, she shattered the NCAA Division II record for the 10,000-meter race by more than 20 seconds, with a time of 32 minutes, 8.09 seconds. The previous record for the 10,000-meter race was set in 1988.

Caroline now ranks 13th among women in the 10,000-meter in all-time collegiate history and is the only Division II athlete among the top 25.

The members of the Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature commend Caroline Kurgat for her record-breaking times and her incredible tenacity and extend best wishes for her continued success and happiness.