The Lewis-Clark State College men’s cross country team has added Jimmy Oribo of Kampala, Uganda, to its roster for the fall, Warrior coach Mike Collins has announced.
Oribo spent the previous two seasons at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, an NCAA Division I school, and is transferring to LCSC. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“Part of the reason he is transferring is that by NCAA rules, his eligibility will run out next year because of the NCAA clock that starts once a student graduates from high school,” Collins said. “It will run out despite the fact that he would have potentially one year left of school after that in order to continue his education and compete. Pine Bluff has been very cordial about looking at Jimmy’s future and giving him the opportunity to continue to go to school and compete in a sport he loves.”
Oribo had an outstanding sophomore season as he finished 27th in the NCAA Regional meet, leading the UAPB to one of its most successful seasons.
“Jimmy comes to us with an outstanding running resume,” Collins said. “Before attending Pine Bluff he was the silver medalist in the 2008 National University cross country 12k Championships and seventh in the 2009 National University Games. He has also competed in the 10k for the 2008 University Games and the 10k and 5k at the 2009 East African University Games. His personal bests are 8:35 for 3,000 meters, 14:48 f0r 5000, and 30:19 for 10,000m.”
While at Pine Bluff Oribo won the Southwest Athletic Conference meet in 25:22 over the 8K course. In track this past year, he was the SWAC conference champion in the 5000 during the indoor season and repeated that feat in the outdoor championships and added to it a conference title in the 10K as well.
“Jimmy is a very talented runner and is only going to help our program in its efforts to win a national title this fall.” Collins said.
