Texas Tech University Athletics
Kipyego Coasts to Ninth NCAA Title: Sets Sights on 10
March 13, 2009 | Track and Field
March 13, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas Tech senior Sally Kipyego became only the second female in NCAA track & field history to win nine NCAA titles as she coasted in to win the 5,000M at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College, Station, Texas.
The Kenyan native ran a facility-record time of 15:51.14 and beat the field by seven seconds. She becomes the first female in NCAA Division I history to win three-straight indoor 5,000M titles.
"I am absolutely thrilled to get my ninth title that is the most successful thing I achieved today. Coming in here I just wanted to get this title so bad and to close the day," Kipyego exclaimed. "It (the race) turned out pretty good and how we planned and I am real glad we didn't have to use a lot of energy."
Kipyego has the opportunity tomorrow to become the most-decorated female in NCAA Division I history by winning her tenth title. The nine titles tie her with former Wisconsin runner Suzy Favor Hamilton.
Kipyego secured her place in the mile final after running a 4:41.89. Her time won the second heat and was the second-fastest time overall. Kipyego will run the final of the mile tomorrow at 5 p.m.
"It is actually not there yet, (tying Favor for nine titles) I have been thinking throughout the week about it. She (Suzy Favor) is such a successful athlete and just to be able to be apart of that and tie that record is such a blessing to me," Kipyego said after the race. "It comes back to a lot of hard work and a lot of people have helped me and I could not have achieved this much success without the support from fans, Texas Tech athletics and so many others. People have sent me cards and sent their support; it has played a major role in my success."
Junior Omo Osaghae qualified for the finals of the 60M hurdles. He won his heat with a time of 7.72 and his time is the fastest of the qualifiers. Osaghae runs the finals tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.
Sophomore Gil Roberts advanced to the finals of the 400M with a time of 46.80. His time is the fourth fastest and Roberts will run the finals tomorrow at 5:50 p.m.
Junior Ozie Okolie competed in the weight throw and her best throw was 61'-9.25". Her throw failed to make finals and was 14th overall.
Lillian Badaru ran a personal-best time in the 5,000M with a time of 16:07.91 and finished in 12th place.
Anthony Flemons jumped 24'-3" in his first event of the NCAA Indoor Championships but failed to make the finals. Flemons will compete in the triple jump at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The Lady Raiders are tied for seventh place with 10 points after the first day.
Tech will start competing tomorrow at 5 p.m. and live results of the meet can be found at www.aggieathletics.com.
Players Mentioned
