Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Photo by: Nate Barrett Photography
Chemadi hopes to end MT career with another title
5/12/2021 7:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — One of Middle Tennessee's most-decorated athletes is hoping to put a good stamp on his college career, and that starts this weekend.
Kigen Chemadi is a champion, plain and simple.
The Kenyan first came to MT in 2015, and since, he's racked up numerous titles, records and accolades as a distance runner. He's hoping to add another couple conference crowns to his ledger this weekend when the Blue Raiders host the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
"I hope we can compete for a championship," he said. "Middle Tennessee has become my home … and I would love to win here to finish my college career."
Chemadi first heard about Middle Tennessee while in Kenya in 2015. He's from Ainabkoi on the country's west side.
Head track and field coach Dean Hayes made a recruiting trip to Africa, and Chemadi was put in contact with him. After a short conversation, his interest in the American school was piqued.
"It was because of the aerospace program they have," Chemadi said. "I wanted to go to the aerospace program, and I actually just graduated from it."
Middle Tennessee's aerospace program offered Chemadi a bit of a dream come true. He now has a bachelor's degree and plans to keep going to obtain a master's degree in engineering.
"It's a real opportunity when you're an international, and especially for me being from Africa," he said. "It was a dream, and when it was made available, I took the chance."
Chemadi and fellow Kenyan Jacob Choge burst onto the scene as freshmen, and they helped each other ease into life in America.
While they're both from the same county in Kenya, Chemadi and Choge had never met until they got to Murfreesboro. They quickly built a bond, though, largely because both were so fast.
"We met here in America," Chemadi said. "It certainly made me feel more comfortable. It made it easier to fit into the system and adopt the culture so quick. I think it's hard for people who go to some place where they don't have anybody from their home. Here, it feels like home anytime."
Choge eventually went on to win the C-USA Cross Country Championships and NCAA South Regional as a freshman, becoming the program's first All-American with a 40th place finish at nationals.
Two years later, Chemadi one-upped Choge by finishing 23rd at the NCAA Championships, the best finish any Blue Raider has ever had at cross country nationals.
It's on the track where Chemadi has really made his mark, though. He's a six-time C-USA champion, winning the indoor 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters (twice) and outdoor 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He holds program records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 and outdoors in the 3,000-meter and 2,000-meter steeplechase and four-by-800-meter relay.
Maybe his most impressive feat came during the 2019 outdoor track and field season. Chemadi won three titles at the C-USA Championships in the 1,500, 5,000 and 3,000-meter steeplechase, then placed 16th in the 5,000 and third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships to earn his second and third All-American honors.
The steeplechase has become Chemadi's best event — a little surprising, considering he had never tried it until the 2019 outdoor season.
"Coach asked if I could run steeplechase because he didn't have anybody to run it," Chemadi said. "It ended up being my best event. … I think it's a more-tactical race than other races. It depends how you control your pace and how quick you can finish the last part of the race with the hurdles and your legs getting fatigued."
He broke his own program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Tennessee Challenge May 1, putting down a blistering 8:35.75 in winning fashion.
If that time is any indication, it looks like Chemadi is set up to have another good showing in front of his home fans this weekend. Nothing new from one of Middle Tennessee's all-time greats.
Kigen Chemadi is a champion, plain and simple.
The Kenyan first came to MT in 2015, and since, he's racked up numerous titles, records and accolades as a distance runner. He's hoping to add another couple conference crowns to his ledger this weekend when the Blue Raiders host the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
"I hope we can compete for a championship," he said. "Middle Tennessee has become my home … and I would love to win here to finish my college career."
Chemadi first heard about Middle Tennessee while in Kenya in 2015. He's from Ainabkoi on the country's west side.
Head track and field coach Dean Hayes made a recruiting trip to Africa, and Chemadi was put in contact with him. After a short conversation, his interest in the American school was piqued.
"It was because of the aerospace program they have," Chemadi said. "I wanted to go to the aerospace program, and I actually just graduated from it."
Middle Tennessee's aerospace program offered Chemadi a bit of a dream come true. He now has a bachelor's degree and plans to keep going to obtain a master's degree in engineering.
"It's a real opportunity when you're an international, and especially for me being from Africa," he said. "It was a dream, and when it was made available, I took the chance."
Chemadi and fellow Kenyan Jacob Choge burst onto the scene as freshmen, and they helped each other ease into life in America.
While they're both from the same county in Kenya, Chemadi and Choge had never met until they got to Murfreesboro. They quickly built a bond, though, largely because both were so fast.
"We met here in America," Chemadi said. "It certainly made me feel more comfortable. It made it easier to fit into the system and adopt the culture so quick. I think it's hard for people who go to some place where they don't have anybody from their home. Here, it feels like home anytime."
Choge eventually went on to win the C-USA Cross Country Championships and NCAA South Regional as a freshman, becoming the program's first All-American with a 40th place finish at nationals.
Two years later, Chemadi one-upped Choge by finishing 23rd at the NCAA Championships, the best finish any Blue Raider has ever had at cross country nationals.
It's on the track where Chemadi has really made his mark, though. He's a six-time C-USA champion, winning the indoor 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters (twice) and outdoor 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He holds program records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 and outdoors in the 3,000-meter and 2,000-meter steeplechase and four-by-800-meter relay.
Maybe his most impressive feat came during the 2019 outdoor track and field season. Chemadi won three titles at the C-USA Championships in the 1,500, 5,000 and 3,000-meter steeplechase, then placed 16th in the 5,000 and third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships to earn his second and third All-American honors.
The steeplechase has become Chemadi's best event — a little surprising, considering he had never tried it until the 2019 outdoor season.
"Coach asked if I could run steeplechase because he didn't have anybody to run it," Chemadi said. "It ended up being my best event. … I think it's a more-tactical race than other races. It depends how you control your pace and how quick you can finish the last part of the race with the hurdles and your legs getting fatigued."
He broke his own program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Tennessee Challenge May 1, putting down a blistering 8:35.75 in winning fashion.
If that time is any indication, it looks like Chemadi is set up to have another good showing in front of his home fans this weekend. Nothing new from one of Middle Tennessee's all-time greats.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
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