Michael Saruni was named to The Bowerman Mid-Outdoor Watch List, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Thursday afternoon.
The Bowerman consists of the top-10 track and field athletes throughout the country and is regarded as the most prestigious track and field honor in the collegiate ranking.
The sophomore is ranked highly in both the 400m and 800m. Saruni clocked an altitude-converted time of 45.53 in the 400m at the Don Kirby Tailwind Open, which ranks him No. 3 in the country. He followed that up with a time of 1:48.39 in the 800m the next week at the Texas Invitational, which puts him 17th in the nation.
This marks the Kenya native’s second appearance on the watch list after making the outdoor preseason list. He is just the fourth Miner to receive national recognition following Blessing Okagbare (2010) Anthony Rotich (2014 and 2015), and Emmanuel Korir (2017). Okagbare is the only Miner to be a finalist for the prestigious award.
Saruni and the UTEP track and field team will head out west to Tucson, Ariz., for the Desert Heat Classic for the final regular-season meet on April 28th.
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