Texas Tech Athletics
Chile Pepper Invitational
#20 Lady Raiders Win Third-Straight Chile Pepper Title
October 17, 2009 | Cross Country
Oct. 17, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - The #20 Texas Tech Lady Raiders cross country team rolled to its third-straight Chile Pepper Festival title led by Lillian Badaru winning the individual title. It marks the fourth year in a row a Lady Raider has won the Chile Festival individual title.
Tech placed four runners in the top 10 of the Chile Pepper, highlighted with Lillian Badaru's second-straight individual title. She ran the course in a time of 20:31.52. Purity Biwott was the third collegiate runner to cross the line and fourth overall. She finished in 20:52.89.
"I was real proud of Lillian (Badaru) today," head coach Jon Murray said after the race. "She had been battling an illness and ran great to win the race."
Caroline Karunde recorded her fourth top 10 finish of the season. Her time of 20:59.95 placed sixth overall but she was the fourth collegiate runner in the race. Gladys Kipsang was the fourth Lady Raider to cross the line in 21:32.32. Kipsang was eighth overall and 6th collegian to finish.
Winrose Karunde and Michelle Guzman finished 25th and 26th overall and 21st and 22nd as collegians. Karunde ran a 21:40.64 while Guzman was right behind her with a 21:41.66.
Kaci Westervelt placed 44th overall running a time of 22:15.42 and was the 39th collegian.
Other Lady Raiders running were Katherine Priebe who finished in a time of 23:58.15 and Meagan Willingham ran a time of 24:25.26.
The Lady Raiders scored 35 points and beat the second place team by 42 points. It is the fourth-straight team title of the season for the Lady Raiders and keeps the squad undefeated on the year.
"The ladies did a great job and I think it's a good start to the season and we feel good where we are as we get ready for the Big 12 Championships and Mountain Regional Championships," Murray said.
The Red Raiders finished in fifth scoring 214 points in one of its best finishes ever at the Chile Pepper Festival. #2 Oklahoma State won the men's team title.
Junior Gilbert Limo led the way placing 19th overall and the 15th for the team total in a time of 30:27.79.Silas Kemboi was the second Red Raider to cross the line as he ran a 31:05.16 to finish 30th in the team standings and 36th overall.
Cory Higgins was 42nd in the team standings and placed 50th overall covering the course in a time of 31:27.03. Zach Quinones ran a 31:43.52 placing 53rd in the team standings and 63rd overall. Logan Culotta finished in 88th overall and 74th in the team standings with a 32:12.91.
Nathan Miles was the sixth Red Raiders to cross the line placing 107th for the team and 129th overall, running a 32:47.17. Jeremy Kight covered the course in 33:24.09 finishing in 157th overall and 129th for the team.
Others running for the Red Raiders were Valentino Julien in with a time of 33:25.92. Zach Dawson finished with a 33:36.05 while Chase Wade ran a 35.12.58.
"The men had a good effort today, it one of our better placing at the Chile Pepper Festival," Murray said after the race. "Several people ran some of their best times of the year in a very competitive race."
Tech will take next week off before travelling to Columbia, Mo., as the Lady Raiders will look to defend their Big 12 Championships held Sat., Oct. 31.
Players Mentioned
