World bronze medalist Pamela finds new home in New Mexico

Pamela Kosgei has joined Lobo’s roster for next season.

The 19-year-old, is bolstering UNM’s distance crew, with the New Mexico Cross Country/Track & Field head coach Darren Gauson confident the Kenyan can make a massive difference for the team.

Kosgei, younger sister to former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, has had a stellar career in the junior ranks.

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She won bronze at the U20 World Cross Country Championships in 2023, is a U20 African champion, and a senior Kenyan national title in the 3,000m steeplechase.

“We are so excited to add one of the best steeple/cross country athletes in the world,” Gauson said. “Pamela is an elite athlete with a history of amazing performances on the world stage, she can make a massive difference for us.”

Kosgei’s personal best in the 3,000m steeplechase (9:35.25) would rank third in the nation this season on the NCAA Outdoor Performance list. That performance was at 5,000 feet elevation and would put her within a second of the top-placed athlete in the nation with elevation conversions (9:22).

Her cross country 10K best of 31:40 would rank second among the nation’s fastest collegiate 10,000m races on the outdoor oval this year. She currently ranks 52nd in the world in cross country and 76th in the world in the steeplechase.

Already on campus in Albuquerque, the 19-year-old will compete for UNM as a freshman in the fall in cross country and immediately boost the Lobo women’s hopes of returning to the NCAA National Championship race as a team after narrowly missing out for the first time since 2007.