Paul Katam Named Blue Chip Performer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG men's cross country sophomore Paul Katam (Eldoret, Kenya/Sacho) has been named this week's Blue Chip Performer sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina after qualifying for the NCAA national championships with a fifth place overall finish at the NCAA Southeast Cross Country Regional Friday in Charlotte.
Katam earned his first-ever invitation to the NCAA championship race by placing fifth overall with a personal-best time of 29:43.62. He surpassed his previous career-mark in the 10,000-meter race by 1:13 over his time in the same race last year as a freshman when he posted a 15th place finish (30:29.90).
Katam and teammate Paul Chelimo (Chebiemit, Kenya/Chebiemit Boys School) qualifying for the NCAA championships, marked the second straight season that UNCG has placed two runners in the nation's final race. Katam and Chelimo, who finished in the top two spots in the Southern Conference Championships, head to the NCAA Championships in Louisville Ky., Nov. 17 on the same course UNCG has run twice already this season.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of North Carolina Blue Chip Performer Weekly Winners
Sept. 4 – Hakan Ilhan, Men's Soccer
Sept. 10 – Katherine Santiago, Volleyball
Sept. 17 – Abraham Kemboi and Chelsea Sumney, Cross Country
Sept. 24 – Fanny Cnops, Women's Golf
Oct. 1 – Hakan Ilhan, Men's Soccer
Oct. 8 – Niltooli Wilkins, Women's Tennis
Oct. 15 - Jamie Simmons, Women's Soccer
Oct. 22 - Katherine Rodriguez, Women's Soccer
Oct. 29 - Paul Chelimo, Men's Cross Country
Nov. 5 - Kelvin McNeil, Men's Basketball
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