Athlete of the Week - No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Edwin Ronoh of Doane (Neb.) has been named NAIA National Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and Rob Keeney of Doane has been tabbed as the NAIA National Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Ronoh and Keeney were selected based on their performances from Jan. 2 – 8. The pair becomes the first teammate duo to sweep Athlete of the Week honors since the award began last season.

Ronoh, a senior and Kericho, Kenya, native, won two individual events and was part of the 4x400-meter relay team that also took first place at the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic, hosted by Doane in Crete, Neb., on Jan. 7. Ronoh ran an automatic NAIA qualifying time of 2:30.98 to claim the 1,000-meter run and then clocked a time of 4:34.90 in winning the one-mile run. The Tiger 4x400-meter relay team, Ronoh included, posted a time of 3:32.39 at the event.

Keeney, a native of Callaway, Neb., also starred at the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic. The junior finished first in both the high jump and long jump events and placed second in the 55-meter hurdles. He recorded an NAIA automatic qualifying mark of 6’ 8 ¾” in the high jump – a figure that ranks second best in the NAIA this season. He also posted a long jump that measured at 22’ 10” and ran the 55-meter hurdles in 7.89 seconds.

The next Athletes of the Week will be announced on Jan. 18.

Track Nominees: Ryan Giesemann, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Nathan Mesta, Oklahoma Christian; Allen Huntley, Shorter (Ga.).

Field Nominees: Tony Morrison, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Gabe Wickham, Hastings (Neb.).

2012 Composite Award Winners (Track; Field) (Schedule)
Week 1: Edwin Ronoh, Doane (Neb.); Rob Keeney Doane (Neb.)