Texas Tech Athletics
NCAA Championships
Lady Raiders Finish Program Best Fifth Place at NCAA's
June 14, 2008 | Track and Field
June 14, 2008
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Lady Raiders of Texas Tech finished a program best fifth place at the NCAA Championships with a total of 32 points. Tech finished with a combined total of 11 All-American honors on both the men's and women's side.
"I am really thrilled! Head coach Wes Kittley said after the meet. "Our women's team came in with a hope of top five and hopefully top four and we got fifth with 32 points. I am really excited because we had a good meet." "Phenomenal meet from Sally and the neat thing about this meet was we got some help from Patience [Knight], Dee Dee [D'Andra Carter] and Irene [Kimaiyo] and it was nice to get some other points."
Kipyego's race for her eighth NCAA title came up just short. Running the 1500M for the first time at the NCAA Championships, she ran a school record and personal-best time of 4:06.67. She finished in second place behind Hanna England of Florida State who ran a time of 4:06.19. It was Kipyego's second All-American honor of the meet.
"I feel amazing, I am so happy for this 1500M because coming out here and running that fast, I didn't see that coming." Kipyego said after the race. "Although I didn't win I am really happy and it was definitely worth running today."
Junior Patience Knight earned her second All-American honor in the shot put. The Honda Inspiration Award winner placed fifth with a throw of 56'-7.50". Knight is the fourth All-American of the meet for the Lady Raiders. She is the second Lady Raider to earn All-American honors in the indoor and outdoor shot put.
Tech's men saw two hurdlers earn All-American honors. Senior Shawon Harris placed fourth with a time of 13.73 for his fifth All-American honor. Omo Osaghae earned his first All-American honor finishing in seventh place with a time of 13.90.
"Omo came in last in the rankings and had two personal-bests and I am really proud of him earning All-American honors." Kittley said after the race. "Shawon Harris our senior getting fourth in the hurdles and really being a team leader all year, I was really happy he earned another All-American honor."
Harrison Benjamin finished one spot away from earning All-American honors after going into the round as the last qualifier. His throw of 58'-9.50 was good for ninth place.
The men's 4x400M relay earned All-American status of Rodney Mims, Harris, Tim Foster and Gil Roberts finished the meet in sixth place with a time of 3:05.22. It is the second best finish ever for the men in program history in the 4x400M relay. It is Mims, Foster and Roberts first All-American honor and Harris' sixth honor of his career.
The women's fifth place finish and 32 points is a program best, while the men finished tied for 25th place with ten points which is the fifth best finish in school history. Florida State won the men's championship and LSU won the women's championship.
Players Mentioned
