NEW ORLEANS, La. – UT Southern freshman standout Frankline Kipruto has been named the 2025 South Region Men's Athlete of the Year, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday following the close of the regular season.

Kipruto earned the regional honor after a breakout freshman campaign that saw him dominate across multiple meets and cap the regular season with a championship performance. He won the Southern States Athletic Conference individual title in 25:08.43, surging away from the field to secure the crown and help place the Firehawks among the region's strongest programs.

His résumé also included a runner-up finish at the Firehawk Invitational, a third-place result at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge, and an eighth-place finish against a deep field at the UNA Invitational. Competing head-to-head with nationally ranked individuals throughout the season, Kipruto consistently placed among the top performers in the South.

The USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year awards are determined by a vote of association member coaches, with only athletes from member institutions eligible.

Kipruto now turns his attention to the 2025 NAIA Cross Country National Championships, where he will compete as an individual on Friday, November 21, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

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