William Ritekwiang, one of UAA's decorated runners from Kenya, was found dead Saturday morning in his off-campus home, the university reported.
He was 23.
No cause of death was reported in a statement released by the school's athletic department. Athletic director Steve Cobb said foul play is not suspected.
Ritekwiang, a sophomore from Kapenguria, Kenya, was one of eight runners from the AfricaN nation on last fall's cross-country team. He was an academic All-American majoring in nursing and a member of the UAA men's team that captured the NCAA West Region championship.
"All the teammates are just devastated," Cobb said. "I don't know any other way to say it. They're just heartbroken and grieving.
"... They were teammates, and they were champions, and that creates a special bond."
Anchorage Daily News
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