KJ Byrd, Elsingi Kipruto Win ACC Indoor Track & Field Yearly Awards
March 27, 2026 | Track & Field
Byrd was named the 2026 ACC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, while Kipruto was selected as the 2026 ACC Men’s Indoor Freshman of the Year.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – University of Louisville men's track & field sophomore KJ Byrd and freshman Elsingi Kipruto were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference as recipients of ACC yearly awards for the 2025-26 indoor season, as announced by the conference office on Friday.
Byrd was named the 2026 ACC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, while Kipruto was selected as the 2026 ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Byrd finished as the national runner-up in the men's heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in mid-March with a total of 6,132 points, marking the best individual finish for a Louisville male at the indoor national championship meet since 2007.
During the national championship meet, Byrd set an American and NCAA record for heptathlon pole vault with a clearance of 5.57m (18-3.25) that also ranks as the third-best pole vault mark within the heptathlon in world history.
The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. set a personal record in the heptathlon at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational on Jan. 30-31, accruing a total of 6,161 points to shatter his own program record and move him within 29 points of the ACC record.
In addition to his success in the heptathlon, the sophomore won the ACC title in the open pole vault, the second conference title of his career, by clearing a final bar of 5.55m (18-2.5) at the ACC Indoor Championships in late February.
With the honor, Byrd becomes the first in program history to win ACC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, just one year after being named the 2025 ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Kipruto placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the men's 5000m, clocking a time of 13:38.02 to finish as the top rookie in the field.
The native of Mosoriot, Kenya qualified for the national championship meet with a personal-best 5000m time of 13:15.74 at the Husky Classic on Feb. 14 that ranked as the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA this season and set a new Louisville program record.
Kipruto also finished as the bronze medalist at the ACC Indoor Championships in the men's 3000m with a personal-best time of 7:46.76 that also stands as a program record.
After earning ACC Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year honors in the fall, Kipruto becomes the third consecutive Cardinal to be selected as ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year, joining Cade DeWitt (2024) and Byrd (2025) as the only three recipients of the award in program history.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
Byrd was named the 2026 ACC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, while Kipruto was selected as the 2026 ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Byrd finished as the national runner-up in the men's heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in mid-March with a total of 6,132 points, marking the best individual finish for a Louisville male at the indoor national championship meet since 2007.
During the national championship meet, Byrd set an American and NCAA record for heptathlon pole vault with a clearance of 5.57m (18-3.25) that also ranks as the third-best pole vault mark within the heptathlon in world history.
The native of Connelly Springs, N.C. set a personal record in the heptathlon at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational on Jan. 30-31, accruing a total of 6,161 points to shatter his own program record and move him within 29 points of the ACC record.
In addition to his success in the heptathlon, the sophomore won the ACC title in the open pole vault, the second conference title of his career, by clearing a final bar of 5.55m (18-2.5) at the ACC Indoor Championships in late February.
With the honor, Byrd becomes the first in program history to win ACC Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, just one year after being named the 2025 ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Kipruto placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the men's 5000m, clocking a time of 13:38.02 to finish as the top rookie in the field.
The native of Mosoriot, Kenya qualified for the national championship meet with a personal-best 5000m time of 13:15.74 at the Husky Classic on Feb. 14 that ranked as the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA this season and set a new Louisville program record.
Kipruto also finished as the bronze medalist at the ACC Indoor Championships in the men's 3000m with a personal-best time of 7:46.76 that also stands as a program record.
After earning ACC Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year honors in the fall, Kipruto becomes the third consecutive Cardinal to be selected as ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year, joining Cade DeWitt (2024) and Byrd (2025) as the only three recipients of the award in program history.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
Players Mentioned
Multis
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Distance
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