Marion Jepngetich of New Mexico ran side-by-side with teammate Pamela Kosgei throughout the first 12 laps of the 5,000-meter final at the NCAA track and field championships. She placed fourth.
It was a great reminder to always finish through the line.
Jepngetich competes for the University of New Mexico track and field program as the reigning silver medalist at the U20 championships in the 3,000. The 19-year-old true freshman distance runner also competes in the 5km Road Race, 5,000 and 1,500. She hails from Uasin Gishu County, Kenya.
Unfortunately, Jepngetich learned a hard lesson during her first NCAA Championship competition. Her teammate, Kosgei, led the 5,000-meter final from start to finish with a 15:33.96. The two Lobos ran together out in front of their competition for the majority of the race. They set a surprisingly slow pace.
Jepngetich and Kosegi tried to pull away on the bell lap but Vera Sjoberg of Boston and Sophia Kennedy of Stanford went with them. The four-woman breakaway group set up an exhilarating 200-meter sprint to the line.
Kosegi found another gear and won. Sjoberg made a move to pass Jepngetich on the far turn but it seemed as though Jepngetich was still in great position for bronze. However, Kennedy took off down the straightaway to go stride-for-stride. They battled hard for third.
Kennedy ultimately pushed harder. Jepngetich either completely ran out of gas with less than three meters to go or slowed down right at the line. Their posture makes it look like the latter. Either way, Kennedy passed her.
Women's 5000m National Champion
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 15, 2025
🏆 Pamela Kosgei of @UNMLoboXCTF
📊 15:33.96#NCAATF x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/QcacXh1iEA
Marion Jepngetich finished 15:35.14 in fourth place because of her lack of effort at the line. Kennedy beat her by .06 seconds.
This is a lesson Jepngetich will not soon forget. That loss has to sting. The good news is that she is only a first-semester freshman. Her collegiate track and field career at New Mexico is just getting started and her first NCAA Championships proved that she is just as good as the field. A disappointing slowdown at the line proved to be the difference between a podium finish and not.