TOLEDO, OH – The Toledo cross country and track & field squads have added sophomore Joan Jepkirui to its teams. The Eldoret, Kenya native transfers to UT from the University of Texas at El Paso. Jepkirui will have two years of cross country and three years of track & field eligibility remaining and will be able to compete this season.

Jepkirui helped lead the UTEP team to its first conference title in school history.  She claimed a conference championship in the 3000m with a time of 9:44.11 and a second place finish in the 5000m run with a time of 16:44.24.  She was named conference Performer of the Meet and Freshman of the Meet for her efforts at the tournament.

Jepkriui finished fifth at the cross country conference championship with a time of 17:50.2.  As a freshman, she claimed fourth place with a personal best time of 16:50.2 in the 5K event.

"Joan is going to be a big addition to our program and we couldn't be more excited to have her here," head coach Linh Nguyen said. "She's a high level athlete that will have an impact immediately in the MAC and beyond on the track and in cross country. She's really going to help us as we aim to be the best in the MAC and among the best in the nation."

Jepkriui has a personal best of 9:28.96 in the 3000m, which earned her first-place at the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational.  She also notched a personal best 16:19.21 in the 5000m at the Stanford Invite. 

Toledo will return to action on Friday, Jan. 15 at the Bob Eubanks Opener in Allendale, MI.