Evans Kibet '20, a XC/Track Runner and sociology major from Nandi Hills, Kenya
In a few sentences, describe yourself and your journey to Siena:
I come from the Nandi Hills in Kenya on the border of Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties. My family and I lived in a refugee camp since 2006 after we were evicted from what we were told was a government land. I ran four miles to school in the morning with packed food provided by the Red Cross, and then back in the evening. I trained in the forest because I realized there was no other option in my life than running. I’m confident about myself and always focusing on the best possible outcome. I asked an athlete in New York who I knew from Kenya and he explained to me the level of education at Siena and the advantage of competing in Division I athletics.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin your Siena experience?
I look forward to becoming closer to the professors so they can help me develop a great education. I am anxious to develop friendships with my teammates and classmates. This experience is all very new and exciting for me.
What were some of the driving factors in your decision to enroll at Siena?
I picked Siena because of the small classes so it will be easier to work with other students in various settings. I also wanted to run for a Division I college to test myself against the best athletes.
What classes and extracurricular activities do you have planned for this semester?
I am on the cross country and track teams and I will try my best to qualify for the NCAA Championships – this is my goal. I plan to study very hard in my classes, because my mission at Siena is to be the best in my academic and athletic pursuits.
What is the most important thing you brought with you to Siena? What is the most important thing you left behind?
The most important thing I brought to Siena is change. I want the cross country team to do better than it ever has and I’m one of the new elements in our developing program. The most important thing I left behind is the Kenyan flag. I say this because I want to go back and raise it (after winning) international competitions. I hope to represent my country in the next Olympics.
20/20:
Hometown: Local or distant - Distant
Salt or Pepper - Salt
Instagram or Snapchat - Neither
Facebook or Twitter - Facebook
Steak or Sushi - Steak
Surf or Ski - Surf
Vanilla or Chocolate - Chocolate
City or Country - Country
Sunrise or Sunset - Sunrise
Comedy or Drama - Comedy
Call or Text - Text
Form or Function - Form
Sneakers or Sandals - Sandals
Passenger or Driver - Passenger
Online or Retail - Retail
Money or Free Time - Money
Book or Movie - Book
Cat or Dog - Cat
Food: Mexican or Italian - Italian
Walk or Run – Run!
