Habtom Samuel won the NCAA men’s 10,000-meter final on Wednesday night in 27:51.31, then leaned on a late kick to edge Louisville’s Elsingi Kipruto and claim his second NCAA 10K title. The New Mexico junior finished strongest over the final 100 meters, turning a race he controlled for most of the way into another championship run.
The win gave New Mexico the last three NCAA men’s 10K titles and added another major line to Samuel’s season. He had already won an NCAA individual cross country national championship in November and an indoor 5K national championship in March, and he also won the outdoor 10K title in 2024 before adding the 2026 crown on Wednesday night.
Samuel, a native of Keren, Eritrea, said the plan was deliberate even if it carried some risk. He led from the start, then slowed with six laps left to save energy for the bell lap instead of trying to put the field away early. That left the race open enough for Kipruto to move ahead with under 300 meters remaining, but Samuel answered with a hard finish over the final 800 meters and held on.
“I know it was risky,” he said, but added he was glad it worked. He explained that he wanted to conserve some energy, wait for another group to join and get a little recovery before kicking hard at the end. The move worked because he and Kipruto separated from the pack for the final lap, and Samuel still had enough left to reel him back in when it mattered.
Kipruto finished second in 27:54.04, with Arkansas’ Ernest Cheruiyot third in 27:58.62. Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich placed fourth in 28:02.24 and Alabama’s Dismus Lokira was fifth in 28:08.49. New Mexico teammate Evans Kiplagat finished 24th overall and earned All-American honorable mention.
Samuel’s latest title leaves New Mexico with a clean run of dominance in the event, while his own résumé now includes titles across cross country, indoor track and the outdoor 10,000. What remains is the next race, and whether anyone in the NCAA field has found a way to answer a runner who can lead for miles, slow on purpose and still finish with enough left to close the door.
