More than his physical talent, what impresses head coach Chris Magill most about star runner Devan Kipyego is what lies beneath his ears.
It doesn’t matter the race, the Saint Raphael Academy senior always seems to find a way to win. He’s proved it time and time again in his multiple-winning performances at the last three state track & field championships (indoor and outdoor). And he proved it Saturday night against a stellar field at the RunningLane Championships in Huntsville, AL.
The pre-race favorite in the Championship Mile, Kipyego lived up to his top billing by taking the individual prize with a season-best of 4 minutes, 3.65 seconds. Once again, it wasn’t easy, In an exciting race coming down the final stretch, Kipyego had to fend off a surging Adam Burlison (Grapevine, TX) in the closing stages to secure his crown. Burlison finished just strides behind in second with a time of 4:03.85.
“Devan is an athlete that can race under pressure,” said Magill. “To beat an elite field when you are the favorite is not easy. He’s a racer with a refuse-to -lose mentality. “
With the aid of a pacer, Kipyego was among the leaders after the opening 400m, which he passed in 61 seconds. The Iowa State signee continued to press up front with Burlison the most aggressive among his competitors. Kipyego held the lead by the 800m mark (2:01). He was passed by Burlison at 1K only to regain the top position by 1,200m (3:02). From there, it was Kipyego and Burlison battling it out for the race’s last lap and exciting finish.
“This is a big win for (Devan) against elite competition,” Magill said. “This sets him up well for his championship season.”
For the SRA standout, that championship season will include the upcoming State Meet and a few more high level meets, such as the Brooks PR invitational and the New Balance Nationals in mid June.
