Mike Koech
Mike Koech
Year: Sr.
Hometown: Eldoret, Kenya
High School: Kapngetuny

2011-12 XC:  Opened his season with a 19th place finish at the Elon Invite with a time of 26:32 (Sept 17) … finished 11th in a season best time of 24:51 at the Southern Conference Championships to help the team capture the first conference title in program history (Oct 29) … ran a time of 32:31 to finish 100th at the NCAA Southeast Regional (Nov 12).

2010-11: XC: Earned First-Team All-SoCon honors as the Southern Conference Championship after running a 24:52.33 to finish in fifth place … set a new personal-best and then-school record in the 8k at the Greater Louisville Classic after running at 24:29.47 … broke his own school record in the 10k at the NCAA Southeast Regional after running a 31:20.07 to finish in 28th place … took home top individual honors at the Elon Invitational as he set a new course record with a 24:54 … finished in seventh at the Royal Cross Country Challenge after completing the 8k course in 24:34.2. Indoor: Redshirted the season. Outdoor: Redshirted the season.

2009-10: XC: Earned First-Team All-SoCon honors at the SoCon Championships after finishing in runner-up with a time of 25:03.59 … broke the school record by over 20 seconds in the 10k with a time of 31:39.79 at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships … set a personal-best in the 8k at the Charlotte Invitational with a time of 24:57.1 to finish in fifth place … came in third place at the USC Upstate Invitational with a time of 25:15.61. Indoor: Earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors at the SoCon Championships in the 5,000 meters after running a 14:50.41 to finish in eighth place … his time was also a school record in the event … broke the school record earlier in the season with a time of 14:51.21 in the 5,000 meters at the Tiger Paw Invitational … came in second place in the mile at the Mountaineer Open with a time of 4:27.97 … finished in 10th place at the prestigious Niswonger Invitational in the 3,000 meter seeded race in a time of 8:43.45. Outdoor: Ran third-best time in school history in the 5,000 meters by finishing in sixth place at the Raleigh Relays with a time of 15:00.54 … came in fourth place in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:31.27 at the Wake Forest Open … also ran an 8:37.20 in the 3,000 meters at the Carolina Fast Times, where he finished in third place … clocked a 4:06.44 in the 1,500 meters at the UNCW Seahawk Invitational.

Prior to UNCG: Ran for Liberty University as a freshman during the 2008-09 season ... had a personal-best 25:53 in the 8k at the Brooks Paul Short Run ... finished in 11th place with a time of 26:12.71 in the 8k at the 2008 Big South Cross Country Championships to help lead Liberty to its fourth-consecutive Big South Championship ... ran a 32:44.90 in the 10k at the NCAA Southeast Regional to help his team to a top-5 finish ...

High School: Attended Kapngetuny High School in Eldoret, Kenya and ran for coach Mwaniki ... began running just three years ago ... finished in under 15 minutes in the 5,000 meters.

Personal: Mike Kipyego Koech ... born June 6, 1986 in Eldoret, Kenya ... son of Cherutich and Margarine Kipkoech ... has two siblings, Luke and Benadine ... majoring in nursing at UNCG.

Top Performances:

XC:
8K: 24:29.47
10k: 31:20.07

Indoor:
Mile: 4:27.97
3,000m: 8:43.45
5,000m: 14:50.41

Outdoor:
1,500m: 4:06.44
3,000m: 8:31.27
5,000m: 15:00.54