Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Keith Vroman - Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
- Title:
- Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
- Email:
- keith.vroman@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 898-5685
Keith Vroman enters his fifth season as the head coach of Middle Tennessee’s cross country and track and field programs after taking over both programs in 2022 following the passing of longtime head coach Dean Hayes.
The 2026 season saw Mustapha Bokpin capture Conference USA titles in the 100 and 200 meters before advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where he placed fourth in the 200 meters and sixth in the 100 meters. Bokpin was also named the CUSA Male Track Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Moses Lekoeki won CUSA titles in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, while Faith Nyathi claimed the 10,000-meter title. During the indoor season, Lekoeki won the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and was named the meet’s Men’s Highest Point Scorer, while Bokpin won the 200 meters and Mackdonald Songok captured the 800 meters and set a Conference USA Indoor Championship meet record.
The 2025 season saw Vroman lead the men’s cross country team to the Conference USA championship, with Allan Kiplagat repeating as the individual champion and earning Men’s Athlete of the Year honors. Moses Lekoeki was named Newcomer of the Year, while Solomon Sayo earned Freshman of the Meet honors. In outdoor track and field, Carmelo Cannizzaro won the 1,500 meters and was named CUSA Male Track Performer of the Meet, while Kiplagat won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Faith Nyathi captured the 5,000 meters. During the indoor season, Brian Kiptoo won the mile and was named CUSA Male Track Performer of the Meet, while Mackdonald Songok won the 800 meters.
In 2024, Allan Kiplagat and Odilia Jepchumba captured individual Conference USA cross country titles, with Kiplagat earning Men’s Athlete of the Year honors before finishing fifth at the NCAA South Regional and 19th at the NCAA Championships to earn All-American honors. On the track, Stephen Eloji won both hurdle events outdoors and set a CUSA Outdoor Championships record in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 13.28. Carmelo Cannizzaro won the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Brian Kiptoo won the 5,000 meters, Lakesha Smith won the long jump, Viktoria Rusnakova captured the triple jump and Jepchumba won the 1,500 meters. During the indoor season, Jepchumba won the 3,000 meters and was named the meet’s Highest Point Scorer and Freshman of the Meet, while Eloji won the 60 meter hurdles in a championship-record time of 7.77 seconds.
The 2023 season saw Vroman lead both cross country teams to Conference USA championships, with Purity Sanga winning the individual title and earning Women’s Athlete of the Year honors before advancing to the NCAA Championships. In outdoor track and field, Stephen Eloji captured titles in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles, Alaba Akintola won the 100 and 200 meters, and Faith Nyathi won the 5,000 meters. Akintola advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in both events and earned Second Team All-America honors in each. During the indoor season, Akintola won the 60 and 200 meters, Brian Rono captured the 800 meters and Esther Isa won the triple jump.
In 2022, Alaba Akintola won both the 100 and 200 meters outdoors, while Stephen Eloji captured the 400 meter hurdles, Benjamin Onyekwulu won the long jump, Eusila Chepkemei won the 800 and 1,500 meters, and Esther Isa captured titles in both the long jump and triple jump. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Kigen Chemadi became a national champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, setting a program record, while Abigail Kwarteng finished runner-up in the high jump. During the indoor season, Lynnika Vince won the 60 meters, Chepkemei captured the 800 meters, mile and 3,000 meters, and Isa won the triple jump.
The 2021 season saw Vroman lead both cross country teams to Conference USA titles, with the men winning their third championship in five seasons and the women capturing their third consecutive title. In outdoor track and field, Jacob Choge captured the 1,500 and 10,000 meters, while Eusila Chepkemei won the 800 meters, Brian Rono captured the 800 meters and Amarachukwu Obi won the 200 meters. During the indoor season, Benjamin Onyekwulu won the long jump, while Esther Isa captured titles in the high jump and triple jump.
In 2020, Vroman led the women’s cross country team to its second consecutive CUSA championship. During the indoor track and field season, Jacob Choge won the mile and 5,000 meters, broke the championship meet record in the 5,000 meters and was named the meet’s Men’s High Point Scorer. Kigen Chemadi won the 3,000 meters, Brian Rono captured the 800 meters, Cecilia Francis won the 60 meters and Esther Isa claimed the high jump title.
The 2019 season was highlighted by Vroman leading both cross country teams to Conference USA championships, marking the first conference championship sweep in program history. Jacob Choge and Eusila Chepkemei won the individual titles, while Vroman was named CUSA Coach of the Year for both teams. At the NCAA South Regional, the men finished second, led by Choge in third and Kigen Chemadi in fourth, before advancing to the NCAA Championships and finishing 31st nationally. In outdoor track and field, Choge won the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, Solomon Afful captured the 200 meters and Thobile Mosito won the 10,000 meters. During the indoor season, Kigen Chemadi won the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, Jacob Choge won the 5,000 meters, Fabian Edoki captured the long jump and Jaquez Torian won the 400 meters.
In 2018, the women’s cross country team finished runner up at the Conference USA Championships. During the indoor season, the women captured the conference title, led by Cecilia Francis in the 60 meters, Abike Egbeniyi in the 400 meters and Agnes Abu in the 800 meters. The women’s 4x400 meter relay also won the title, while Kigen Chemadi won the men’s 5,000 meters and later advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships, earning Second Team All-America honors.
The 2017 season marked Vroman’s first year as head cross country coach. He helped lead the men’s team to its first Conference USA championship, with Jacob Choge capturing his second consecutive individual title. Vroman was named CUSA Men’s Coach of the Year. At the NCAA South Regional, the Blue Raiders won their first regional championship, led by Choge in third and Kigen Chemadi in fifth, while Vroman was named USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year.
Vroman’s tenure at Middle Tennessee has included conference championships, individual titles, NCAA Championship appearances and numerous athletes breaking school records and establishing their place in program history. Throughout his career with the Blue Raiders, he has recruited and coached one national champion, 19 NCAA Division I First Team All-Americans, 42 NCAA Division I All-Americans, 65 NCAA East Regional qualifiers and 140 individual track and field conference champions. His athletes have earned 378 all-conference honors, while he has been part of staffs that have won 20 conference team championships. In cross country, Vroman has coached four All-Americans, 133 all-conference performers, 38 NCAA All-Region performers and three teams that advanced to the NCAA Championships. He has also earned 10 Conference USA Coach of the Year honors in cross country, including the 2017 USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year award. His athletes currently hold 37 school records at Middle Tennessee across the men’s and women’s programs.
A native of Ludington, Mich., Vroman earned his bachelor’s in physical education, his master’s in health education and an M.S. in sports administration from Eastern Kentucky, where he competed in cross country and the steeplechase.
