Kenyan athlete makes history at the Washington State University
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 05.05.26. | 14:01
During the 2025 season, she dominated the West Coast Conference circuit, winning the WCC Championships in 19:35.0 and setting course and meet records at both the Gans Creek Classic and Cougar Classic
Kenyan middle-distance runner Rosemary Longisa continues to rewrite history books in the United States of America.
On Friday, 1 May, the sophomore surged into the program’s history after clocking 2:00.27 to win the women’s 800m, setting a new outdoor school record.
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In doing so, she eclipsed a long-standing mark that had stood for over 35 years, previously held by Celestine N'Drin.
Her time now ranks fifth nationally.
Longisa’s latest feat adds to an already remarkable résumé.
She now holds four school records at Washington State: indoor 800m, outdoor 800m, indoor mile, and outdoor 1500m, firmly establishing herself as one of the most versatile middle-distance athletes in NCAA competition.
Her rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
On April 19, Longisa produced a jaw-dropping performance in the 1500m, clocking 4:02.55, the fastest outdoor time recorded in the NCAA since 2009.
The mark places her second on the all-time collegiate list, behind only Jenny Barringer, who set the record of 3:59.90 in June 2009.
Although still some distance from the world record of 3:48.68 held by Faith Kipyegon, Longisa’s performance has ignited conversations about the next generation of global contenders in women’s middle-distance running.
Her time also propelled her from 134th to 20th on the all-time list of Kenyan women over the distance, an extraordinary leap that signals her rapid progression.
Competing under Townhall Athletics, Longisa’s dominance was evident as she cruised to victory in the 1500m, finishing nearly five seconds ahead of her closest challenger, Carmen Alder, who clocked 4:07.29.
The commanding win further cements her status as one of the brightest prospects in collegiate athletics and a potential future contender on the global stage, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Her performances earlier in the year had already hinted at what was to come.
In January, she ran 4:24.59 in the mile at the UW Invitational, just one second shy of the NCAA record.
The time made her the third-fastest miler in NCAA history, trailing only Silan Ayyildiz.
That run not only set a new program record but also shattered the meet record by three seconds, highlighting her consistency across both indoor and outdoor seasons.
Beyond the track, Longisa has also proven her strength in cross country.
During the 2025 season, she dominated the West Coast Conference circuit, winning the WCC Championships in 19:35.0 and setting course and meet records at both the Gans Creek Classic and Cougar Classic.
She also delivered strong performances at the NCAA West Regional Championships and NCAA Championships, showcasing her endurance and competitive edge.