Pamela Kosgei’s freshman year at the University of New Mexico wasn’t just remarkable — it was record-shattering. Now, the distance running sensation has been named Mountain West Female Athlete of the Year for 2024-25, capping one of the most dominant debut campaigns in NCAA track and field history. The league announced the honor Thursday, adding Kosgei’s name to an elite Lobo list that includes Amelia Mazza-Downie (2022-23), Weini Kelati (2019-20), Josh Kerr (2016-17) and Courtney Frerichs (2015-16).
Kosgei delivered a perfect conference cross country season, claiming both MW Freshman and Athlete of the Year honors while leading UNM to the team title. She finished runner-up at the NCAA Championships, powering the Lobos to a seventh-place national finish.
Her indoor campaign brought three Mountain West titles (mile, 3,000m, 5,000m) and the fifth-fastest indoor 5,000m in collegiate history (15:00.36). Outdoors, she went undefeated, winning NCAA titles in both the 5,000m and 10,000m — only the fifth woman ever to sweep the distance double, and just the third since 1998. Her 10k victory came in a meet-record 31:17.82, the No. 3 all-time collegiate mark; she already owns the No. 2 time at 31:02.73.
Along the way, Kosgei posted one of the fastest steeplechase performances in NCAA history (9:15.93) and ran a high-altitude 10k in Albuquerque (31:58.51) that was the fastest ever outside of Africa. She finished the year with six conference titles, five All-America honors, two NCAA outdoor golds, and 50 points toward UNM’s first-ever sweep of MW women’s XC, indoor, and outdoor team crowns.
Her dominance helped both Lobo track programs achieve their best combined NCAA finish in school history, with 56 total points and Top 10 team placements for both men and women — making UNM the only non-Power Five school in the nation to pull off the feat in both outdoor track & field and cross country in 2024-25.
Kosgei also earned a Bowerman Award finalist spot — track & field’s highest individual honor — becoming the first Mountain West athlete and first UNM woman to be named. Off the track, the public health major maintained a 3.33 GPA, earning USTFCCCA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. She will next compete for Kenya at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Williams Earns Spot on College Football “Freaks” List
On the gridiron, another Lobo is making national headlines. Senior cornerback and kick returner Abraham “Abe” Williams has been named to Bruce Feldman’s annual College Football Freaks List, which spotlights the most physically gifted and athletic players in the country. Williams, who checks in at No. 100, is the active leader in college football with five career 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns.
A 6-foot-1, 186-pound transfer from Idaho — and former FCS All-American at Weber State — Williams impressed scouts this summer with elite measurables, including a top speed of 22.5 mph, a 39-inch vertical leap, and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. Feldman praised Williams’ length, explosiveness, and versatility, projecting him to be a key contributor at cornerback, on kick returns, and potentially as a punt returner.
Williams is one of only two Mountain West players to make the 2025 list, alongside Wyoming’s John Michael Gyllenborg at No. 54, and one of just 27 non-Power Four athletes recognized.
UNM Rolls Out \$4 Value Menu for Football Games
In an effort to keep Lobo Football both family-friendly and affordable, UNM Athletics announced the launch of an all-new $4 value menu at University Stadium this fall. Starting with the August 30 home opener against Idaho State, fans can purchase hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi products, and bottled water for just \$4 each.
The value menu will be available at the main west concession stands as well as the northwest and northeast concourse locations. The initiative follows the school’s “Kids 12 & Under Get in Free” promotion, which offers two free general admission tickets for children with the purchase of an adult GA ticket for select games.
“Our goal is to make Lobo Football as family-friendly and affordable as ever,” said Vice President/Director of Athletics Fernando Lovo. “We want every New Mexican to be able to enjoy a great game-day experience without breaking the bank.”
Between Kosgei’s record-breaking freshman season, Williams’ spot on a national list of elite athletes, and new fan-friendly promotions, it’s shaping up to be an exciting year for Lobo Athletics — on the track, on the field, and in the stands.
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