Anchorage Daily News

UAA's Kenyan-flavored running and cross-country teams got another injection of African talent on Monday when coach Michael Friess announced that two more East Africans will be on the roster this season.

With the signing of Marko Cheseto Lemtukei and Alfred Kangogo, UAA now features six Kenyan runners.

The returning Kenyans are seniors David Kiplagat, Cornelious Sigei and Elizabeth Chepkosgei as well as sophomore Paul Rottich.

As a result, the cross-country team has become largely a mix of Alaskans (14 runners) and Kenyans.

Laura Carr, a junior from Indiana, is the only athlete from the Lower 48 on the team. Two Canadians and an Australian complete the roster.

"These two athletes will significantly improve our team and culminate perhaps our best recruiting class ever," Friess said in press release. "We certainly have potential."

Lemtukei, a graduate of Chewoyet High School in Kapenguria, Kenya, will have three years of eligibility and will focus on 5,000 and 10,000 meters. He recently ran a 5-K in 14:30 at 6,000 feet elevation on a dirt track, Friess said.

Kangogo, who can run from 1,500 to 10,000 meters, will have four years of eligibility. The native of Eldoret, Kenya, recently clocked a time of 3:54 over 1,500 meters.

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