Terre Haute, Ind. ? For the second time in his career, Colby Wissel is an All-American.
The Kansas University senior placed 39th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday. His time of 30:36 was the second-fastest 10K of his career.
Wissel joins an elite list of KU runners who have been named back-to-back All-Americans. The last person to do it was Billy Mills in 1958- ’59. Preceding him were Jerry McNeal (1956, ’57), Al Frame (1954, ’55) and Bob Karnes (1947- ’48).
All-America status is given out to the top 25 runners and the top 30 American-born runners in the race. Forty-four runners were given the honor that nearly eluded Wissel during the race.
“I got out pretty well, then I hit a rut and struggled awhile,” Wissel said. “I got tangled up with a kid from Lousiville. I fell down at the 2,000-meter mark, I got on my feet, and I was upset, then I fell way back.”
Wissel, a native of Elm Creek, Neb., went from 42nd place to the mid 60s after his fall. It wasn’t until a harsh kick to the finish that Wissel made it to the top 44. Siome Kiplagat from Louisville, the man he got tangled up with, placed 65th.