Kenyan runner defers Master's program to focus on athletics career
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 24.06.26. | 18:13
He represented Kenya at the 2025 World Athletics Championships and made his Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games
Kenyan long-distance runner Edwin Kurgat has revealed that he has put his Master's degree on hold as he seeks to maximize his opportunities in athletics.
That decision appears to be paying off following his qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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The US-based athlete secured his place on Team Kenya after finishing second in the men's 10,000m at the national trials held at Nyayo National Stadium.
Kurgat crossed the finish line in 28:29.05, narrowly behind winner Ismael Rokitto, who clocked 28:28.42.
The result marked another milestone in a career that has continues to rise steadily over the past few years.
Kurgat represented Kenya at the 2025 World Athletics Championships and made his Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, where he reached the men's 5,000m final and finished seventh in 13:17.18.
He also placed seventh in the 10,000m final at the World Championships, clocking 28:57.83.
Despite maintaining a strong academic background, Kurgat said he made the difficult decision to temporarily step away from his postgraduate studies to focus entirely on his running career.
"I decided to pause my Master's studies so I could focus fully on athletics. Competing at this level is not easy, and, for now, my priority is running. I completed my degree in Industrial Engineering and had already begun my Master's in Engineering, although I had not progressed very far," Kurgat said.
"Athletics gives me a limited window of opportunity, so I want to make the most of my talent over the next few years. Once that chapter is done, I can always return to school and complete my Masters,” he continued.
Kurgat's commitment to balancing academics and athletics has been a hallmark of his journey.
He initially enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2016 before transferring to Iowa State University in 2018.
He emerged as one of the top collegiate runners in the United States, winning the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship, all while pursuing a demanding degree in Industrial Engineering.
He later graduated from Iowa State, fulfilling a dream that was particularly important to his family, who emphasized education alongside sporting excellence.
Now primarily based in the United States, Kurgat trains and competes across the country while maintaining close ties through training camps and national team duties.
He has also developed strong roots in Ames, Iowa, where he spent much of his collegiate career and later worked in coaching roles.
He credited his growth as an athlete to improved race intelligence and the quality of training partners around him.
"One of the biggest differences I've seen is the advanced, tactical side of racing; running smart rather than simply running hard. I owe a lot of that growth to my coach. Training alongside athletes like Eduardo Herrera has also helped me develop, and I'm proud to be part of such a strong team," he explained.
Kurgat arrived in Kenya shortly before the trials and spent time sharpening his form at the country's famed high-altitude training hub in Iten.
"I arrived in Kenya on Sunday. Since I train at high altitude, it always feels good to come back and compete here. I spent a few days training in Iten, and running there felt a little easier than it did here," he said.
His qualification for the Commonwealth Games comes on the back of a string of impressive performances on the international circuit.
In February, Kurgat finished 10th in the men's two-mile race at the 2026 Millrose Games, clocking 8:11.89.
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The performance was particularly significant as it became the fastest time by a Kenyan over the distance in 13 years and elevated him to third on Kenya's all-time two-mile list behind only Paul Kipsiele Koech and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
Last year, Kurgat also etched his name into the record books by achieving a feat never before accomplished in the 89-year history of the Manchester Road Race in Connecticut.