* Devan Kipyego competes in the 3K at the RIIL Indoor State Championships
Photo Credit: David DelPoio/USA Today Network via Providence Journal
- - -
Devan Kipyego prepared himself to achieve the previously unachievable on Saturday.
Win four state titles in one day.
"I wanted to come out here and do something that's never been done before," he told the Valley Breeze afterward.
Lucky for Kipyego, that's exactly what the Iowa State signee did in his final foray at the RIIL Indoor State Championships, claiming wins in the 600m, 1,000m, 1,500m and 3,000m inside the Providence Career and Technical School Academy.
Kipyego competed in the 600m, 1,000m and 3,000m just once heading into the state competition.
Didn't matter.
He locked his eyes on the mission and accomplished the feat, earning a career best time in the 600m of 1:22.63, a season-best effort in the 1K of 2:33.17, a win in the 1,500m in 4:00.39 and a season-best time in the 3K of 8:43.78.
Making matters more compelling, Kipyego won the 600m, 1K and 3Ks by less than a second and the 1,500m by just over a second.
According to the Valley Breeze, Kipyego became the first in Rhode Island history to win all four events.
"That's the best performance I've ever seen, and I've obviously been around for a while," Chris Magill, St. Raphael Academy's head coach, told the Valley Breeze afterward.
Magill had previously worked with Devan's brother, Darius, with the program until his graduation in 2021. The older Kipyego is also at Iowa State.
Devan Kipyego used last-ditch kicks in both the 1K and 3K to earn victories.
His performances landed at U.S. No. 32 in the 600m, U.S. No. 57 in the 1K, U.S. No. 35 in the 1K -- though he already owned a U.S. No. 5 time at that distance -- and U.S. No. 49 in the 3K.
Related Links:
