Missouri Southern State University Athletics

 Kimutai was named the NCAA Division II Mens' Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Assocation (USTFCCCA) as well as the MIAA Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row after malking a statement on his home course in Joplin last weekend. 

He won  won the Southern Stampede and led the Lions to a team crown over nationally-ranked Northwest Missouri State. The sophomore traversed the 8K course in 24:04.1 for a 17-second victory over two-time NAIA national champion Oscar KipKoros of Oklahoma City. His time also marked a new personal best at the distance, an improvement of 43 seconds from his showing last year when he finished second.

This is the third time in program history the Lions have had a National Athlete of the Week. Vincent Kiprop received the honor twice during the 2016 Cross Country season