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Men's Track and Field VMIKeydets.com

Kitur's Season Ends at NCAA Championships

EUGENE, Ore. – VMI's Felix Kitur finished fourth in his 800-meter heat at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which began Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The effort brings to a close the VMI track and field season, as well as Kitur's junior campaign.

Kitur's time of 1:50.40 came in what was, perhaps unexpectedly, the slowest heat of the three contested Wednesday. The junior out of Eldoret, Kenya, got off to a strong start, breaking from the outside at the gun and settling into third after 200-meters. After one lap, the leader, Big Ten champion Casimir Loxsom of Penn State, had set a pace some two seconds slower than the other heats.

The field stayed bunched together coming to the famed Bowerman curve, the final turn on the 400-meter oval, and Kitur remained in third place. That was when veteran Andrew Wheating made his charge, coming from fifth to win the race over the final 200-meters. With just one automatic qualifying spot left, Kitur could not overtake Chris Gowell of Baylor, and the VMI standout's year came to a close. Overall, the junior finished in 19th place, two spots ahead of Mountain West Conference champion Ryan Waite of BYU, and five spots in front of Ryan Foster of Penn State, who was third at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

“Felix had a successful season, to make it back here to the NCAA Championships for the second time in three years,” said VMI Assistant Track/Head Cross Country Coach Paul Spangler, who was in Oregon with Kitur. “Today's race gave us a chance to see where we need to focus our training, so that he can get back here and make the finals next season.”

Kitur enjoyed a banner junior year, highlighted by a heat win at the NCAA East Preliminary Meet at the end of May. His performance at that meet sent him to Eugene, as he was tabbed for his second career berth at the NCAA Championships. Kitur also captured his first career IC4A title in 2010, becoming just the third VMI competitor to win a title at the historic event, as he prevailed at the indoor IC4A Championships. At the outdoor version, he earned his second career runner-up finish. Finally, he earned yet another Big South title and set a new conference meet record at the Big South Outdoor Championships in April.

“I am excited for Felix, and for our program,” said VMI's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Darrin Webb. “Felix has a great season, as during one stretch, he went 10 weeks without losing a race. I know tonight was not the result that any of us were hoping for, but it is a great accomplishment to go to the NCAA Championships, as only 24 people qualified. This was an interesting race, as on paper, it appeared it would go out very fast. It simply did not, however, and we give Wheating and Gowell credit for advancing. Again, I am proud of Felix's season, as he had a sensational year with many notable moments for our program. It was a year that all associated with VMI can be proud of.”
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Players Mentioned

Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Mid-Distance
Junior

Players Mentioned

Felix Kitur

Felix Kitur

Junior
Mid-Distance