Kimeli “Kimkay” Brian Bett is a University of North Alabama cross country freshman who has been award-hungry by breaking school records all around his first season.
The student-athlete comes from Kenya, where he spent his childhood practicing track & field and building his passion for running. According to Bett, in his country, cross country is mostly ran by the national team, school athletes and amateurs are directed to track, which is how the 3,000 and 5,000 meters became his favorite modalities.
With an ease for long-term running, Bett had a dream: to get a scholarship and come to a university in the United States.
“At first, it was a bit tough because getting a scholarship is not that easy in our country,” said Bett. “You can get one, but to get a visa is a bit tricky. You have to work hard.”
Upon his arrival in the fall semester of 2024, the nursing student had his first-ever contact with cross country. Bett claims there was a significant difference in open-air running in Kenya and in the USA. At home, he experienced tough ground, mud and water.
“Here, it’s just the hill, so, it’s amazing, kinda easy,” he joked. “If we just [worry about] the speed and the mileage we are good.”
He claimed to miss home sometimes, but the dream was always to come to the U.S. UNA’s and the cross country program’s sense of community fascinated the runner from the start. He said it is “amazing” that he gets to meet so many international students on campus. His team does not fall short on the matter, Bett found friendship in his peers, who showed him the “meaning of teamwork.”
Bett also thanked head coach Connor Callahan for the instruction and leadership, “[Callahan] makes the decisions, he tells us, ‘Is it ok with you? Are you good with doing it?’ He makes it comfortable for us to do the training. We are always able to give our views.”
Settled and fully motivated, Bett kicked off his first-ever season and collegiate race as a Lion by achieving the third place, of 134 runners, with a time of 19:46.35 for four miles, at the City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic on Aug. 31. UNA finished fifth of 13 schools.
Following this incredible first race, on Sep. 7, the cross country program brought eight other schools to UNA’s Invitational at McFarland Park, 82 runners. Bett not only finished first, helping UNA achieve the second overall place, but broke the school’s 8K record with a time of 24:08.14, beating former record-holder Evan Allen by 46 milliseconds.
The race earned Bett two ASUN awards, Runner of the Week and Freshman of the Week. He reminisced on the performance, saying the experience was amazing but “it wasn’t that tough,” and he was ready for a bigger challenge.
The following weekend, Sep. 13, the Southern Showcase hosted by Jacksonville State in Huntsville brought Bett to break his own 8K record with a time of 24:02.36, finishing in eight place among 457 other finishing runners. UNA’s men’s cross country finished 13th of 47 schools. The race won Bett back-to-back ASUN awards of Freshman and Runner of the Week, which no Lion had ever done before.
With the FSU Pre-Regional meet canceled due to the hurricane Helene, UNA followed to Columbia, Mo., for the Gans Creek Classic on Sep. 27. Facing 319 other finishing runners, Bett placed 12th with a time of 23:26.4. Again, breaking his own record–this time, by a 36-second difference.
Bett shared his views on what it means to participate in a competition where top-ranked schools are present.
“I realized [that] when we went to Missouri, everyone was like, ‘Those are Stanford guys, they’re tough.’” he said. “We should not be afraid. Just remember you, just remember your training and everything is good.”
The meet won Bett his third set of Runner and Freshman of the Week. He said achieving greatness was an expectation when coming to UNA, and that international student-athletes are under the pressure of succeeding, which is a motivation factor for him.
“You have to prepare and be ready. For an athletics student, when we come here, they expect much from us. You have to watch every step before you come,” Bett said.
Continuing the cross country journey, UNA faced 13 other schools at the Crimson Classic hosted by the University of Alabama on Oct. 18. With 152 finishing runners, Bett shot high for sixth place with a time of 23:35.2. UNA finished eighth.
This high-performing athlete is motivated to keep running because he loves what he does.
“I love athletics so much. I just love it, I just love doing it,” Bett said. “It motivates me.”
Bett said his preparation for a meet is based on mindset, eating healthy, and working out properly; he must focus on the week prior, not on the day of. “What I normally say is, “Did I do my workouts well? Was everything before the race’s day or week perfect?” When my workouts are perfect is when I’m confident I’m going to beat someone,” he explained.
The 2024 cross country ASUN Championship is set for Nov. 2 in DeLand, Fla.
