Kerr earns national honor for his Millrose feat
Coaches name Lobo men’s athlete of week
New Mexico’s Josh Kerr, who ran the sixth-fastest mile time in NCAA history Saturday at the Millrose Games, was named the national men’s athlete of the week by coaches Monday.
Kerr, a redshirt sophomore from Edinburgh, Scotland, ran a personalrecord 3 minutes, 54.72 seconds to finish second against a field that included six Olympians at the elite Wanamaker Mile in New York.
In the back half of the 12-runner field early, Kerr moved from eighth at 800 meters to second at the line. He finished the final 200 meters in 27.69 seconds, the best split by any runner.
Kerr’s time ranks third in the world in 2018, behind Edward Cheserek, who ran 3:53.85 on Saturday in North Carolina, and Wanamaker Mile winner Chris O’Hare (3:54.14).
Kerr is the only athlete in NCAA history to rank topsix in both the mile and its outdoor counterpart, the 1,500 (3:35.99 last spring, sixth-best in NCAA history).
Kerr’s national selection is his second and the sixth in UNM cross country/track & field history. Ednah Kurgat claimed two such honors during her undefeated cross country season last fall. Courtney Frerichs (May 2016), and Charlotte Arter (2014 cross country), have also earned the honor.
Kerr races again at the Feb. 22-24 Mountain West Championships, to take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Kurgat is running at Washington’s Husky Classic this weekend. UNM, meanwhile, hosts the Don Kirby Invitational Friday and Saturday.