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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The Other Lagat

Posted May 29th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by Stephanie Lowe

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Success Stories, Track & Field, Olympics, Interviews, College, Road Racing

It may seem odd that a city in west Texas is similar to an east African country, but that is why Haron Lagat, from Eldoret, Kenya, lives and trains in Lubbock. Lagat, 24, said the stable weather and friendly community remind him of home, but with more opportunities.

“I think I’ll live here for a while,” Lagat said. “If there’s a place where you can make your life better, why not go there?”

The former Texas Tech athlete-turned-volunteer assistant coach runs for the AmeriKenyan Running Club, based in Santa Fe, N.M. His manager, Scott Robinson, convinced Lagat to forgo his last year of NCAA eligibility to run professionally in 2006, despite never winning a national title. Lagat mentioned that most people had never heard of him while he ran in college.
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Kipyego Too Tough To Beat in Women’s NCAA XC Champs

Posted November 19th, 2007 at 6:00 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, College

From gun to tape, the women’s division of today’s NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships had only one leader: Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech. The junior from Kenya ran away from the field to defend her individual title in 19:30.9 (unofficial) over the 6 km course in Terre Haute, Ind.

Last year, Kipyego sprinted to the fore at the gun and never looked back. However, Kipyego was content to run most of the first mile with a lead pack this year that included three others: Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, the 2006 runner-up, Florida State’s Susan Kuijken, and Iowa’s Diana Nukuri.

Kipyego started to edge ahead on a long downhill just past the mile passing the 2 km in 6:26. Barringer, Kuijken, and Nukuri were only a second behind at the split before the field made their way up the course’s second long incline.

From that point on, Kipyego simply extended her lead over the chase pack — passing 4 km in 13:01, 11 seconds ahead of Barringer, Kuijken, and Nukuri.
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Kipyego, Tegen Among Regional Honorees for D1 Women’s Cross Country

Posted November 16th, 2007 at 5:30 PM by Andrew Goodman

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

Winning never gets old for Sally Kipyego (Pictured) of Texas Tech and Coach Peter Tegen of Stanford. To varying degrees, the same can be said of all the athletes and coaches earning recognition as regional award winners for the Division I women’s cross country season.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association today announced the women’s coaches and athletes of the year for nine Division I regions.

Kipyego, a four-time NCAA individual champion in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, is the Mountain Region Women’s Athlete of the Year. The Texas Tech junior’s undefeated season includes victories at the Big 12 Conference Championship and the Mountain Regional. Kipyego will defend her national title at Monday’s NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Tegen’s runners will also be defending a title Monday. Stanford has won the last two NCAA championships and is favored to make it three in a row. The Cardinal won three of the toughest meets of the year – Pre-Nationals, Pacific-10 Conference Championship and the West Regional – and is ranked first in the country.
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