AMES, Iowa – Iowa State cross country freshman Meshack Kimutai has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, announced by the Conference Thursday afternoon. Kimutai helped Iowa State to a third-place team finish at the NCAA Championships on November 22 and earned All-America honors.

Kimutai, a Baringo, Kenya native, ran to a 23rd-place individual finish at the national meet last month to earn All-America honors in his rookie cross country season. He also finished 13th at the Big 12 Championships for All-Conference honors as ISU’s fifth runner and helping the Cyclones to a runner-up finish. In his Iowa State debut, Kimutai ran fifth for ISU and 19th overall at the Gans Creek Classic, helping Iowa State to the team win in Columbia.