Official Fitchburg State Release
FITCHBURG, Mass. – Fitchburg State University Athletics Hall of Fame recently inducted its Class of 2018 on September 20 and Mount Holyoke College head cross country and track & field coach Chris Kibler was among six inductees into this year's class. A former cross country and track & field standout for the Falcons, Kibler is in his second season as head of the Lyons cross country team and was recently named the head coach for the indoor and outdoor track & field programs. He is also now a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education.
Since his arrival in South Hadley, Kibler has guided the Lyons cross country to 10 top-10 finishes over 13 meets during the fall season. This season, Mount Holyoke has finished ninth or better in all six of its races, including second overall at the Smith Invitational and third at the James Earley Invitational at Westfield State, as well as the Jim Sheehan Invitational at Fitchburg State.
Kiber enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career at Fitchburg State as a member of both the men's cross country team, as well as the men's indoor and outdoor track & field teams. A National All-American in the mile at the 2014 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, he remains the Falcons' record holder in several events, including the mile (4:07.29), the 3,000 meter (8:28.97) and the 5,000 meter (14:44.01) and the 1,500 meter outdoor mark with a time of 3:56.30.
A seven-time Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) champion, he set the indoor conference record in the 3,000-meters in 2012 and the 10,000m record at both the outdoor MASCAC meet and the New England Alliance Championship. Named the conference's Runner of the Week 24 times during his career, he was infamous for racing multiple events in MASCAC Championship (one-day) meets to score for the team (2010 OTF - 1500, 800, 5k), (2011 OTF - 10k, 5k), (2012 OTF - 10k, 5k), 2014 (ITF - 5k, mile, 1000, 3k).
The recipient of the Paul K. Waring '38 Athlete of the Year Award in 2014, he helped the cross country team win the MASCAC Championship in 2008 and the outdoor track & field team to the 2010 conference title. Additionally, Kibler was the 2012 MASCAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, the Fitchburg State Athletic Leadership Award recipient and a four-time MASCAC All-Academic selection.
As a coach for the Falcons for four years, Kibler also helped his alma mater win the 2015 MASCAC cross country championship.
In addition to being a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Kibler is also Level 1 certified by USA Track and Field. He is also a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as well as the American College of Sports Medicine.
Kibler graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fitchburg State in 2012, earning his Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He was awarded his M.B.A. in management from FSU in 2015, while also earning his certificate in massage therapy from the New Hampshire Institute of Therapeutic Arts in 2013. He has also taught in the Exercise and Sports Science Department at Fitchburg State since 2015.
