OSU alumnus uses athletic background to change his life

OSU alumnus uses athletic background to change his life

Friday, September 13, 2024

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | [email protected]

In 2009, Shadrack Kipchirchir dreamed as big as the sky and took a risk for his future.

The Kenya native decided he wanted to attend college in the United States.

"My brother was already in the U.S., and he told me, 'If you want to go to college in America, be good in school and get a sports scholarship,'" Kipchirchir said. "In 2009, I worked hard to get good grades at school, and I did some small training. In 2010, I qualified to get a full ride at Western Kentucky University."

Kipchirchir ran for Western Kentucky for a year and a half, receiving All-American honors as one of the top freshmen cross-country runners in the nation. In 2011, Kipchirchir decided to transfer to Oklahoma State University.

"I visited Stillwater and loved the environment," Kipchirchir said. "OSU had a great atmosphere for both school and running. I loved the small town. Plus, the team and coaches were amazing."

Kipchirchir attended OSU, majoring in construction management technology until he graduated in 2014. While running for OSU, he received guidance and mentorship from track and cross-country coach Dave Smith.

"He was a great team guy and into the team experience," Smith said. "He's a natural leader, a great athlete and student with a very kind and gentle personality. He was easy to get along with and extremely popular amongst his teammates because of his personality."

Competing in indoor track his senior year, Kipchirchir earned an All-Big 12 honor with a runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter race and placed 11th in the 5,000-meter at the NCAA Championships to earn second-team All-American honors.

"I think becoming a good distance runner takes time," Smith said. "In our program, we do things for the future, for getting athletes to where they want to go, which can mean taking it slow to start. Shadrack's lifetime running experience was about two years, so it took time to grow athletically. He is very gifted with a natural skill for distance running."

In cross-country, he helped lead OSU to Big 12 and NCAA titles and finished with his career-best time at nationals, placing 18th to earn All-American recognition. He took third at the Big 12 Championships to secure All-Big 12 honors.

In addition to investing in his running, Kipchirchir was determined to be diligent in his studies and receive a quality education. At the Big 12 Championship, he earned recognition as a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and a USTFCCCA All-Academic performer.

"He was very focused on academics and always saw his degree in construction management as his path to a better future," Smith said. "Which he still sees it that way, but he realized if he could get to a certain level in running, there would be an avenue for him as a professional runner. There was then motivation behind his dream, giving him something to dream about."

After graduating from OSU, Kipchirchir decided to join the military in 2014. He said he saw how inspiring the military was while watching his younger brother graduate basic training.

"My brother graduated a changed man," Kipchirchir said. "The way he talks, the way he thinks, even the way he told me to do things. That's when I decided I wanted to be a soldier and hoped they would support my running."

Kipchirchir qualified to join the World Class Athlete Program after his enlistment in 2014. Following basic training, he received his citizenship in 2015 and has continued to run for the U.S. In 2016, Kipchirchir represented Team USA in the Rio Olympics.

Now in his running career, Kipchirchir has transitioned to competing in marathons and is working to qualify to run for Team USA in the 2028 Olympics. After his running career ends, he wants to return to his degree and pursue a career in real estate. He also hopes to mentor younger runners to help other athletes achieve their dreams.

"We are focused on the long-term development of student-athletes," Smith said. "If an athlete is trained correctly, unlike other sports, athletes in long distance usually perform their best at 25 to 27 years old. When I started coaching, I made a deal with myself to focus on getting our athletes to their final peak, being the best they can be."

Photos by: Bruce Waterfield

Story by: Jillian Remington | STATE Magazine