TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Auburn senior Joyce Kimeli closed out one of the most decorated cross country tenures in program history with a 16th place finish Saturday morning at NCAA Championships to secure yet another All-American award in her storied career.
Paired with a 14th place finish at 2019 Nationals, Kimeli becomes the only Tiger in program history to amass multiple top-20 finishes at the sport's pinnacle event.
"Joyce ran a great race today" Tigers cross country coach Aaron Kindt said. "It epitomizes what she's been like her whole career – a competitor and a fighter. I'm excited to get her on the track and see what more she can accomplish moving forward."
Kimeli's 19:43:40 mark is good for her best 6k time of the season and the second best of her career. It is also her fastest time of four career meets at Apalachee Regional Park.
With a top-40 finish in a field of 255 total runners, Kimeli earned her second Cross Country All-American honor in as many seasons. She joins Rachel Sauder (1994, 95), Janet Trujillo (1996), Angela Holman (2003, 04, 05) and Holly Knight (2008) as the only Auburn women to garner All-American status school history.
In addition to her All-American accolades, Kimeli rounds out her cross country career with two meet victories, 11 top-10 finishes, three All-Region selections, and one South Regional Athlete of the Year award.
Whittni Orton of BYU claimed this year's individual title while NC State won the women's team championship.
Up Next
Kimeli and the Tigers gear up for indoor track season with Kimeli's first meet just two weeks away as she is scheduled to compete at the Boston Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts on Dec. 3 – 4.
2021 NCAA XC Championships
Apalachee Regional Park
Tallahassee, Fla.
Auburn Individual Results
16. Joyce Kimeli, 19:43:40
𝗔𝗟𝗟-𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 👑
— Auburn Track & Field (@AuburnTFXC) November 20, 2021
best race of the season for @joyce_kimeli
16) 19:43.40
she's bringing home another All-American honor 🔥#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/ATuLZfB9BQ
Individual Auburn Women's Results at NCAA Championships
1994 Rachel Sauder 28th
1995 Rachel Sauder 30th
1996 Janet Trujillo 31st
2000 Nerissa Johnson 87th
2001 Alexis Hamblet 117th
2002 Catherine Wanyoike 74th
2003 Angela Holman T-32nd
2004 Angela Holman 9th
2005 Angela Holman 30th
2008 Holly Knight 11th
2010 Holly Knight 79th
2015 Brenda Kigen 54th
2016 Veronica Eder 63rd
2017 Brenda Kigen 102nd
2018 Joyce Kimeli 106th
2019 Joyce Kimeli 14th
2021 Joyce Kimeli 16th