Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Host Season Opener
January 11, 2007 | Track and Field
Jan. 11, 2007
LUBBOCK, Texas -
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LUBBOCK, Texas - The 2007 track and field season gets underway in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday, January 13th, with the Texas Tech All-Comers and Masters. The meet is the first of four home indoor events for the Red Raiders, who also host next week's Texas Tech Invitational.
Eighth-year head coach Wes Kittley returns after leading the men's and women's squads to their top indoor conference finishes in school history. The men finished in fourth place with 72 points, anchored by 17 all-conference performers. The women took third place, totalling 68 points on the efforts of 17 All-Big 12 accolades.
During the coming events, the Tech squads will look to better their indoor conference standings with 10 All-Americans returning, six men and four women.
The All-Comers and Masters event gets started at 8 a.m. with the masters long jump and pole vault. All-Comers events get underway with the long jump and weight throw at 10:30 a.m. Running events will begin at 11 a.m. with the 55M hurdles and sprints preliminaries, followed by the finals.
Complete results on Saturday's action can be found on www.texastech.com following the meet.
MEET PREVIEW
With 11 events on the Tech indoor schedule, the Red Raiders will be able to enjoy familiar territory with four events at their home facility. In the first two week, the schedule has the Tech men and women at the Athletic Training Facility in Lubbock. February 3rd and 10th finish the home stand for indoor events.
Tech also will see three other facilities on more than one occasion. The Zia Classic Multis and Lobo Invitational will both take place in Albuquerque, N.M., while Ames, Iowa, will host the Last Chance Meets and this year's indoor Big 12 Championship. Tech will also make two trips to Fayetteville, Ark., the site of the NCAA Championship and the Tyson Invitational in early February.
The lone event on the schedule that is a one-time visit is the Husky Invite, when the Red Raiders trek to the west in a visit to Seattle, Washington.
ON THE TRACK...
In 2007 the Tech track team will feature the faces of familiar Red Raiders in the running events, including three All-America seniors in Shawon Harris, Marlon Odom and Bryan Scott.
Harris enters after earning two All-America honors during the last indoor season, having earned accolades in the 60M and with the 4x400M squad.
Also earning All-America status at the 2006 NCAA Championships was then-newcomer Zach Glavash. Glavash launched himself into the Tech record books after finishing second at the Big 12 Championships in the 800M with a school record. He then finished eighth at nationals, capping off the season as an all-conference and All-America performer.
Senior sprinter/hurdler Daryl Burgess finished the indoor slate on a high note with a second-place performance at the Big 12 Championship in the 60M hurdles. He clocked a time of 7.77, marking a then-school record.
Although distance runner Sally Kipyego has yet to set foot on the track for Texas Tech, she already has eyes turning. The sophomore transfer from South Plains is the reigning 2006 cross country champion and is expected to make an impact for the women's team during the indoor season.
...AND IN THE FIELD
Misty Coley returns at the only indoor field event All-American. In 2006, she finished as the Big 12 runner-up in the high jump, earning her way to nationals and All-America status.
Also in field events for the women is returner Lacy Wilson, now in her senior year. She finished her 2005 indoor campaign as the Big 12 champion in the high jump and as a national qualifier.
IN WITH THE NEW
The Red Raiders added depth to the roster with a crop of newcomers. On the men's side 24 freshmen and three transfers were added during the off-season. Nine sprinters and hurdlers join the Red Raiders, along with seven distance runners, 10 jumpers and throwers and one for multis.
The women bulked up the roster with nine freshmen and two transfer students. Ten runners were added, including five distance, and one jumper.
OUT WITH THE OLD
The Texas Tech squad lost a few big names after last season, including six All-Americans. The women lost mid-distance runner Althea Chambers, who earned All-America status in the 800M at the outdoor championships in 2006.
On the men's side, five athletes are lost that accumulated 15 All-America honors. Albert Booker and Andrae Williams each tallied four during their time with the Red Raiders. Booker and Williams were each members of the 4x400M team that earned the honor at the 2006 indoor championships.
Michael Mathieu is a departed three-time All-American, who also earned one of the honors with the 4x400M relay team last indoor season.
Bobby Most and Sage Thames are each two-time pole vault All-Americans. In 2003, Most earned an honor at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Thames earned his accolades in outdoor competition.
ONTO THE SCENE
Newcomer Sally Kipyego ran through the cross country season going all but unnoticed. After becoming Texas Tech's first Big 12 cross country champion, she continued to run through the competition until the end. Kipyego quickly became the Mountain Region champion as well as the national champion.
When all was said and done, Kipyego walked away with an undefeated season and numerous honors. She was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, All-Big 12, Mountain Region Women's Athlete of the Year, All-Mountain Region, National Champion, All-American, USTFCCCA Female Athlete of the Year and the Honda Sports Award recipient for cross country.
Kipyego will be competing in distance events on the track for the Red Raiders during the indoor season.
Players Mentioned
