Courtesy Hamilton Sports Information

CLINTON, N.Y. - Hamilton sophomore Peter Kosgei (Kapsabet, Kenya) has been selected the 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Kosgei finished first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships held at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on May 23 and 24. He defended his 2007 title in the steeplechase and broke his own facility record in the event with a time of 8:55.19.

Kosgei posted a school-record time of 8:43.78 in the steeplechase at the Penn Relays on April 24. That time is almost 21 seconds faster than anyone else in Division III and is one of the top 10 times in the entire NCAA this year.

Kosgei set the program record in the 5,000 with a time of 14:30.35 on May 8. He also set team records in the 800- and 1,500-meter run this season. Kosgei finished first in every race this spring but one - the steeplechase at the Penn Relays. He finished second to a Division II athlete from Texas' Abilene Christian University at that meet.

Kosgei finished first in the 800 and the 1,500 at the New England Small College Athletic Conference championships held at Hamilton in April. He broke meet and facility records in the 800 with a time of 1:50.62. His winning time of 3:51.41 in the 1,500 established meet and facility records as well. Kosgei was one of two male athletes selected for the Sebasteanski Award as the most outstanding performer of the conference meet.

Kosgei received the 2008 men's indoor track athlete of the year award from the USTFCCCA in March.