Ernest Cheruiyot transfers to Arkansas for 2026 season

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Bucknam announced the signing of Kenyan distance runner Ernest Cheruiyot as a transfer who will join the Razorbacks in January for the 2026 season.

A two-time first-team All-America in the 10,000m, Cheruiyot finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championships and fourth in the 2024 NCAA meet while competing for Texas Tech.

Sporting a career best of 27:45.65 in the 10,000m, Cheruiyot established that time as runner-up by 0.02 of a second in the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational. He was also the runner-up in the 2024 Bryan Clay Invitational with a then best of 27:52.13.

As a freshman in 2024, Cheruiyot set a meet record of 13:38.28 in winning the Texas Relays 5,000m. He established a career best of 13:27.89 as runner-up in the 2025 Big 12 Championships.

On the conference level, Cheruiyot collected a pair of Big 12 gold medals along with silver and bronze. He won the 2025 10,000m title while placing second in the 5,000m. Indoors, Cheruiyot claimed the 2024 5,000m title and finished third in the 3,000m.

In cross country, Cheruiyot finished third in the 2024 Mountain Region after placing fifth in the Big 12 and competed in the NCAA Championships.