Video+Story: Saruni Sets No. 2 NCAA All-Time Best in the 800M

Lubbock – Sophomore sensation Michael Saruni shocked the world again with an impressive 800m performance when he ran 1:45.19 at the Texas Tech Invitational Saturday afternoon.

“Saruni had another outstanding performance and puts himself in a class of his own,” head coach Mika Laaksonen said. “I would not be surprised if he takes down coach Ereng’s NCAA record.”

Saruni continues his record-breaking season, now setting the No. 2 All-Time Best 800m run just behind his coach Paul Ereng (1:44.84, 1989). The Kenya native opened the season by breaking the school record running a time of 1:45.92 in the 800m at the Commodore Invitational and followed that performance with a world-record time 1:14.79 in the 600m at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational.

The men’s team registered eight personal bests throughout the day, starting with senior Asa Guevara in the 400m with a time of 46.77 taking second place overall. Guevara clocks his personal-best time for the second consecutive week.

Newcomer Benjamin Coronado had himself a day with personal bests in the shot put with a toss of 13.92m (45-8) notching a 13th place finish and in the weight throw garnering 11th overall with a mark of 14.01m (45-11.75).

Shakeem Smith clocked 8.14 in the 60m hurdles to finish sixth overall. He was followed by teammate David Rivera who clocked a personal-best 8.43 to finish 16th overall.

In the triple jump, Devin Mungro leaped a personal-best 13.89m (45-7) to finish 13th in the competition. Austin Ondijo leaped over the high jump bar to mark a career-best 1.97m (6-5.5) to finish 12th overall.

On the women’s side, Linda Cheruiyot clocked a career-best 4:58.31 in the mile run taking gold. She was followed by Carolyne Chepkosgei running a time of 5:05.05 to finish fifth overall.

Senior Tyler Ragin competed in the 60m Olympic development race, clocking a personal-best 7.72 to take sixth place.

Rebecca Oshinbanjo registered a season-best 8.65 in the 60m hurdles taking home a ninth-place finish.

Lilian Koech took gold in the 800m with a time of 2:12.26, trailed by freshman Andrea Lucero (2:29.75).

Cierra Chenault competed in both shot put and weight throw competition. She threw for 11.80m (38-8.75) in the shot put garnering eighth overall. Later in the day she placed 19th in the weight throw with a mark of 13.17m (43-2.5)

Freshman Sarah Mwangi earned an 11th place finish in the 3,000m with a time of 10:33.76.

The Miners will return to action on Feb. 2-3 for the New Mexico Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.

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Feast your eyes on the No. 2 NCAA All-Time 800m run by Michael Saruni #WeAreMiners pic.twitter.com/4uoxWdLmOS

— UTEP Track & Field/XC (@UTEPTrack) January 27, 2018