Geoffrey Kirwa Named ACC Men’s Track Athlete & Freshman of the Week
April 22, 2025 | Track & Field
The rookie earns the honor on the heels of posting a world-leading 3000m steeplechase time of 8:13.89 last weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – University of Louisville track & field freshman Geoffrey Kirwa has been named the ACC Men's Track Athlete of the Week and the ACC Men's Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
The freshman made his collegiate debut in the 3000m steeplechase on April 16 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, posting a world-leading time of 8:13.89 that also moves him up to second in NCAA history, behind only Henry Rono's collegiate record that has stood since 1978.
The performance shattered the Bryan Clay Invitational meet record by over 10 seconds, while also bettering the previous Louisville program record of 8:24.87 that was set by two-time NCAA champion Matt Hughes in 2011 and the previous ACC record of 8:20.68 that was set in 2024 by Nathan Mountain of Virginia.
After beginning his outdoor career on April 4 at the Stanford Invitational with a school-record 5000m time of 13:30.83, Kirwa now owns a trio of program records in the indoor mile, outdoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m steeplechase while also owning five Louisville freshman records in the indoor mile, indoor 3000m, indoor 5000m, outdoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m steeplechase.
With the honors, Kirwa becomes the first athlete in program history to earn multiple ACC weekly awards in the same week during the outdoor season and the only athlete to do so in the conference thus far this season.
He also becomes only the third athlete in program history to earn ACC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors and the first since 2021, while becoming the second Louisville athlete this season to be named ACC Men's Outdoor Freshman of the Week after KJ Byrd received the honor on April 4.
The Cardinals return to action this weekend for the Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Invitational, their only home meet of the 2025 outdoor campaign, which will take place from Apr. 25-27 at Cardinal Park.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
The freshman made his collegiate debut in the 3000m steeplechase on April 16 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, posting a world-leading time of 8:13.89 that also moves him up to second in NCAA history, behind only Henry Rono's collegiate record that has stood since 1978.
The performance shattered the Bryan Clay Invitational meet record by over 10 seconds, while also bettering the previous Louisville program record of 8:24.87 that was set by two-time NCAA champion Matt Hughes in 2011 and the previous ACC record of 8:20.68 that was set in 2024 by Nathan Mountain of Virginia.
After beginning his outdoor career on April 4 at the Stanford Invitational with a school-record 5000m time of 13:30.83, Kirwa now owns a trio of program records in the indoor mile, outdoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m steeplechase while also owning five Louisville freshman records in the indoor mile, indoor 3000m, indoor 5000m, outdoor 5000m and outdoor 3000m steeplechase.
With the honors, Kirwa becomes the first athlete in program history to earn multiple ACC weekly awards in the same week during the outdoor season and the only athlete to do so in the conference thus far this season.
He also becomes only the third athlete in program history to earn ACC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors and the first since 2021, while becoming the second Louisville athlete this season to be named ACC Men's Outdoor Freshman of the Week after KJ Byrd received the honor on April 4.
The Cardinals return to action this weekend for the Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Invitational, their only home meet of the 2025 outdoor campaign, which will take place from Apr. 25-27 at Cardinal Park.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and Twitter account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
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