AUBURN, Ala. – When some runners come to a hill, they see an obstacle. Auburn's Joyce Kimeli sees opportunity.
"I always like to take advantage where there are some hills," Kimeli said. "Most people get tired very quickly on hills."
The Auburn sophomore will attack the hills Saturday at the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wisconsin on the Thomas Zimmerman Championship Course at 10:45 a.m.
Kimeli, who finished fourth at last week's South Region in Tallahassee, Florida, gained experience on the Wisconsin course in last month's pre-nationals meet.
"We did the pre-nationals before so I know what the course looks like," she said. "I'll be running when it's 28 degrees, so I know that's cold for me. But I will try my best because I know what the course looks like, and it's not my first time.
"I set my mind on starting in front and stick with the pack for quite long. I always like running with hills, so that will not be a big deal to me," Kimeli said. "I have enough training. I have speed work. I have stamina and endurance, and I'll be fine."
Making her first appearance at NCAAs, Kimeli continued Auburn's four-year streak of sending a runner to nationals, joining Brenda Kigen in 2015 and 2017 and Veronica Eder in 2016.
"When you have someone go to nationals, that becomes contagious," Auburn cross country coach David Barnett said. "It's big for the whole program, especially for Joyce. She works so hard."
A pre-nursing major who intends to return to Kenya to practice nursing, Kimeli began running competitively in seventh grade.
"I can do it, because I'm capable and I have the positive attitude and potential," she said.
On Saturday, she plans to stay with the lead pack.
"The more I stick with them, the more it will make me stronger and secure myself a good position toward the finish," she said.
Kimeli's mental toughness makes her elite, Barnett said.
"She expects it to be hard and she embraces that," he said. "Total grit. She puts herself up at the front and just goes to work. She puts it on other women to keep up with her as opposed to wondering what other people are going to do.
"It's better to keep up than catch up in these big races, because once you get spit out the back of that pack, especially in cold, windy weather, it becomes a lot tougher."
Kimeli earned first-team All-SEC honors by finishing fifth when Auburn hosted the SEC Championships on Oct. 26, appreciating the encouragement from the hometown fans.
"The environment, the entire community at Auburn. They motivate you in everything you do," she said. "If you stay good, they motivate you. If you don't perform well, they still motivate you, so you can do better in the future."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
