Murray Ready to Race Past Big 12
October 27, 2006 | Cross Country
Oct. 27, 2006
By: Brandon Hughes
Both first place and Red Raider pride will be on the line for the men's and women's cross country teams as they head up to Kansas on Friday for the Big 12 Championships.
Head coach Jon Murray said the team is very excited about this weekend and that he is looking forward to different things from both teams.
"The women's team is one of the top two or three teams in the conference and we are all very excited about that," Murray said. "We've already beaten some of the good Big 12 schools already this year and they're excited about what they can do this weekend in Kansas."
Leading the women's side is sophomore Sally Kipyego. Murray said that Kipyego is just outstanding and that she is able to elevate the entire group of runners.
"She was the top female athlete in the National Junior College Association last year and she was a two-time national champion," Murray said.
"She's going to be right up there as one of the best athletes we've ever had here at Texas Tech."
As good as Kipyego is, Murray said it takes fiver runners to complete a team score and Murray believes Kipyego will be getting some help through Asia Diaz and Irene Kimaiyo.
Murray said that Diaz, a sophomore from Garland, Texas, has improved drastically from last year and ran very well two weeks ago in the Chili Pepper Invitational in Arkansas. Murray said that Kimaiyo was off and on their number one runner last year and that these two girls should be a good punch to help back up Kipyego.
The men have one beast of a runner leading them, as well.
Senior Kevin Chelimo is no stranger to the spotlight as last year he competed in the NCAA Championships where he was the first male from Texas Tech to ever accomplish that feat.
Murray said he believes Chelimo will challenge for the men's individual championship.
"Kevin has just got better from day one since I've been here," Murray said. "I knew he had the ability because I tried to recruit him back before I came here."
"He won Newcomer of the Year last year in cross country and he's just got more experience and more strength and we're just excited to see him finish in the top three."
Murray said that the women have a very good chance of coming out at the top of the Big 12 this weekend. He said that if there can be a 90 second gap between the finishes of their top five runners, they could have a chance at first place.
Due to a true lack of solid depth and overall quality, he looks for the men to just keep improving as they have been. Murray said that a top ten finish and an improvement off last year's time should be a victory in the minds of the Red Raiders.
Players Mentioned
