Royals Hall of Fame
In just one year Daniel Kanyaruhuru was pivotal in putting Queens’ cross country and track and field programs on the map. The 2008 graduate led the Royals to their first Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championship and NCAA Southeast Region Championship. From the regional race, the Royals went on to their first NCAA Championship appearance where they finished 15th in the nation.
Kanyaruhuru was named to the all-conference team before earning Conference Carolinas Cross Country Runner of the Year honors. After the regional meet, Kanyaruhuru was named to the all-region team and earned Southeast Region Runner of the Year honors. With a fifth place finish at the NCAA National Championship Race, Kanyaruhuru was named a USTFCCCA All-American for the year. He would go on to compete in the USA Cross Country Championships finishing in 21st place.
Following the cross country season, Kanyaruhuru focused his attention on the track becoming Queens’ first national champion after winning the 5K at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championship. He then added a sixth place finish to the season in the 10K at the outdoor national championships. Kanyaruhuru was named an All-American at both meets.
Kanyaruhuru currently works as an activities organizer in a rehabilitation department and for The Mapendo Foundation. This nonprofit organization provides refugees with lessons in English, American culture, and helps provide them with basic materials they may need. Kanyaruhuru recently got married on October 11, 2015 and is a proud father of his five-year-old daughter, Simone.
