As Ethan Kiptui rounded the corner into Norris Penrose Event Center’s outdoor arena neck-and-neck with Soroco’s Nick Clark, he almost gave up. 

But when the sophomore heard his parents, St. Mary’s coaches, and teammates cheering for him, he decided to push and leaned at the finish line to win the 2A boys CHSAA state championship race by less than a tenth of a second. 

Kiptui won with a time of 16:20.07 and Clark was second in 16:20:08.

“I knew I had to try, I couldn’t give up on them,” Kiptui said. “Right at the end I dove for it half because I was about to die and half because I had to go for it. My coach yelled that I had won, and it was the most shocking feeling ever. I thought I had lost. It was pure joy. Thanks to God.”

Mental toughness is something Kiptui has worked on this season, and what led to Kiptui’s photo finish. The sophomore placed 26th in last year’s state championship. 

“I think a big thing that switched for me mid-way through the season was the idea that competition makes you better, but happiness is what drives you,” Kiptui said. “I needed to become happy first to see the results. I’m so much happier now and got the win.”

“He’s never liked to be in the back so watching him try to take this race was exciting,” St. Mary’s coach Nicole Robinson said. “It’s good to see him finally start mentally working for things he deserves and wants. It was fun to see that change this year.”

St. Mary’s did not qualify as a team after placing sixth at regionals, but the whole team was cheering loudly in the stands to support Kiptui. 

“We put a lot of emphasis on family and team and supporting each other regardless of how we win or lose,” Robinson. “We all work for each other on this team, coaches included, and everyone is expected to give 100% when they show up each day, knowing that 100% is different every day.”

Kiptui started running in seventh grade after joining the local Kokopelli running team. Robinson said he grew up knowing he was good at running and doing it just because he was good at it, not because he enjoyed it.

That has since changed. 

“Watching him fall in love with it has been exciting,” Robinson said. “Faith is at the heart and soul of it. We run with the gifts God has given us and it’s fun to watch his faith drive and support him.”

 A viral infection four weeks into the season almost sidelined Kiptui for the season. So seeing their son overcome that to win the state title was an unforgettable moment for his parents. 

“I was so surprised and shocked,” his mother, Agnes Kiptui, who ran for Bowling Green State, said. “When I saw him closing at the end, I was just smiling all the way out.”

“This is going to be a big motivation for him. Keep him working hard and showing up. This means a lot to him because it confirms that whatever he puts out, he gets to reap good results from it.”