Gilbert Boit named OVC Male Freshman of the Year

Posted: Oct 28, 2016

By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—This weekend not only marks the OVC Championships for the men and women's cross country teams, but it is also a time when the 12 member schools take a break from their training to gather together and celebrate the accomplishments of the runners throughout the league.

This year, one of Tech's very own was recognized by the Ohio Valley conference for his outstanding performance all season long. Gilbert Boit received OVC Male Freshman of the Year honors Friday night at the annual banquet, marking the first time a Tech cross country runner has received the award since it was first implemented in 2005, and the third OVC Freshman of the Year that head coach Wayne Angel's programs have produced in two years [D'Airrien Jackson (2015-16 OVC Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of Year) and Na'Asha Robinson (2015-16 OVC Indoor Track and Field Freshman of Year)].

"The Tennessee Tech family is very proud of Gilbert," Angel remarked. "He has performed amazingly so far this season and I believe that the best is yet to come. It is truly an honor for him to be recognized by the OVC. Gilbert has brought a lot of attention to Tennessee Tech through his dedication and devotion to excellence."

Boit, a native of Eten, Kenya, led the Golden Eagles in all five of their meets this season, crushing Tech records in the process. Boit marked the fastest 6K-time in the OVC this year for his time of 18:33.7 at the Golden Eagle Invitational on Sept. 3. He also broke the Tech school record in the 8K, recording the third fastest OVC and career-best 8,000-meter time of 23:59.70 at the Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 1.

Boit twice earned OVC Runner of the Week honors during the 2016 season. He opened the year by establishing a new school record and fastest OVC 6K time at the Golden Eagle Invitational to earn him his first accolades of the season. A week later he won the Azalea City Classic and followed that by claiming his second OVC Runner of the Week honors when he placed fourth in a field of 288 competitors at the Commodore Classic.

Also honored at the OVC banquet were Eastern Kentucky's Erick Rotich, Charlotte Imer, and Lilian Jeptoo Kiborus. Rotich claimed his second consecutive OVC Male Athlete of the Year honors, while Imer was named the Female Athlete of the Year and Kiborus took home Female Freshman of the Year accolades.

This year's OVC Championships will be held on Saturday at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Following the race the awards for Athletes of the Championships, Coach of the Year, and the All-OVC teams will be awarded. The women will kick off Saturday's festivities with a 5,000-meter race set to begin at 9 a.m., while the men's 8,000-meter race will have a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Live results will be available here as the races are completed.

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