Hempstead, NY - Hofstra men's cross country freshman Freddie Kipkosgei was named the Coastal Athletic Association Men's Cross Country Runner and Rookie of the Year following an outstanding first collegiate season with the Pride, the conference announced Thursday afternoon. Joining Kipkosgei in the CAA major awards was head coach Vincent Giambanco, who received the CAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors for the first time.

Kipkosgei is the first athlete to earn both major awards in the same season since 2015 when Elon's Nick Ciolkowski earned the postseason recognition and the fourth Hofstra men's runner to earn the Rookie of the Year award. He joins Zach Van Houten (2021), Isa Suleiman (2019), and Meshack Kipchirchir (2018) in receiving the year-end accolade from the CAA. 

The freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, had one of the most successful seasons in program and conference history. He was the first Hofstra runner since 2020 to capture the individual title at the CAA Cross Country Championship, leading the Pride to its first-ever conference championship win. Kipkosgei posted the second-fastest time in conference history with his 23:01.6 finish. He continued his success at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Northeast Regional Championships, where he claimed the individual championship with his 10K performance of 29:12.7, earning him Northeast Region Athlete of the Year honors by the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association. Kipkosgei concluded his rookie season by earning All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in Columbia, Missouri, with his 38th place finish and personal best time of 29:04.09. 

The CAA honored Giambanco as the CAA Coach of the Year after he guided the Pride to its first men's cross country conference title. The Hofstra squad had four runners place in the top-11 individually earning them All-CAA honors, led by Kipkosgei and second-place finisher Abraham Longosiwa. 

The top-15 finishers at the CAA Championship earned All-CAA honors and are listed below in alphabetical order.

All-CAA Team
Nico Boyle, Northeastern
Patrick Cantlon, Northeastern
Brendan DiStefano, William & Mary
Peter Fogarty, Stony Brook
Dawson French, Northeastern
Henry Gartner, Stony Brook
Michael Hawkes, Stony Brook
Jason Kerber, Hofstra
Abel Kipkemboi, Hofstra
Freddie Kipkosgei, Hofstra
Abraham Longosiwa, Hofstra
Eli Phillips, William & Mary
Hayes Trapp, William & Mary
Tennessee Tremain, Monmouth
Caleb Wilcox, William & Mary