WALNUT, Calif. ? Junior distance runner David Kiplagat (Kapsabet, Kenya) capped off a tremendous track & field season for Alaska Anchorage by earning the program's third All-America honor of the 2008 NCAA Division II Championship meet by placing eighth in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase event on the final day of competition today at the Hiltner Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. Sac College.
Kiplagat registered a time of 9:14.79, while collecting his second-career All-America accolade, but first in track. The Kenyan, who also garnered the honor in cross country last fall, is the first UAA men's athlete to earn All-America certificates in both cross country and track & field.
UAA's record holder in the steeplechase (9:07.20), Kiplagat's effort Saturday marked his best finish in three appearances at Nationals.
A two-time GNAC champion, Kiplagat didn't start competing in the steeplechase until this season.
Daniel Maina of Abilene Christian won the men's steeplechase title by running to a time of 8:53.61.
Kiplagat's eighth-place finish earned one more point for UAA's men in the team standings, giving them 11 overall. With 19 of 21 men's events completed, the Seawolf men stood in a tie for 15th out of 55 teams. The result is the best ever by a Seawolf team at Nationals.
UAA's women scored two points and are 55th with one event remaining.
Kiplagat joins 2008 NCAA long jump champ David Registe and Kim Brady as UAA's All-America honorees at this year's national championship meet.
