Congratulations to senior Devan Kipyego, who completed a very successful cross country season, earning a running trifecta—All-American, All-New England, All-State honors—and a college commitment at a Division I cross country program.

After taking first place finishes in the state and New England championships, the next opportunity to shine came at the Nike Cross Northeast Regionals in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., where SRA coach Chris Magill ’90 reported in a social media post: “Devan executed the race plan to perfection as he battled through the hills with the leaders and made his move in the final 1,000 meters to take the Nike Northeast Region crown in 15:34.” His performance there earned him a berth in the Nike Cross Nationals, and Devan is the first runner from Saints to qualify for the race in nearly 30 years.

Devan’s significant performance more than 3,000 miles away in Portland, Oregon, was the cherry on the sundae of his busy post-season. At the Nationals, he impressed again with a 15th place finish in a field of 198 of the best high school cross country runners from eight regions around the country. His finish is the best time ever posted by a Rhode Island runner in that meet.

The (literally) long road to that final accomplishment started in early November. A superb regular season brought Devan and the SRA cross country team to their first challenge: the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) State Championships. Repeating his first place performance in 2021, Devan led the pack at the state championships with a top finish time of 15:39.3. The following week, he placed first in the New England Cross Country Championships, earning All-New England honors and posting a time of 15:24.7.

This fall, Devan signed his national letter of intent with the Division I running program at Iowa State University. If that institution sounds familiar to you, it’s because just a couple of years ago, Devan’s brother Darius ’21 also committed there.

Last year, Devan was also awarded two 2021-2022 Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year awards – one for cross country and one for track and field (middle/distance running).

Watch Devan’s race at the Nike Nationals! (Devan is wearing bib #226.)

Devan’s introduction in Box 31 – Northeast – starts at about 2:28; race begins at about 2:43.

https://cdn.runnerspace.com/nxnlive.html

Pictures courtesy of Runnerspace