- Sally Kipyego
Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Sally Kipyego
college = Texas Tech
conference = Big 12
sport =Track and field
position = Runner
class = Junior
major =Nursing
career_start = 2005
nickname =
height_ft =
height_in =
weight_lb =
nationality = Kenya
birth_date = birth date and age|1985|12|19
birth_place =Kapsowar ,Marakwet District ,Kenya
highschool = Moi Kapcherop Girls
career_highlights =
awards = 2007All-American
2007 All-Big 12
2007 All-Mountain Region
2007 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
2007Honda Award
2007 Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year
2007 USTFCCCA Female Cross Country Athlete of the YearCitation | last = Hubbard | first = Sharisse | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = Team Reviews | newspaper = Red Raider Sports | pages = 27 | year = 2007 | date = June 2007 | url = ]
2008 Honda AwardSally Kipyego (born
December 19 ,1985 inKapsowar ,Marakwet District ,Kenya ) is a runner who competes as part of theTexas Tech Red Raiders track and field team and is the first Kenyan woman to win an NCAA cross country individual championship. Academically, she is studying to become a nurse.Running
Before 2007
Sally Kipyego's running career started in 2000 when she was 15. The following year, she represented Kenya as a junior at the
IAAF World Cross Country Championships , finishing eighth. However, a stress fracture kept her off both the 2002 and 2003 teams before entering college in theUnited States .cite news | url= http://eliterunning.com/blog/2006/11/21/215 | title=Texas Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego dominates, Stanford women repeat at 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships | publisher=EliteRunning.com | date=2006-11-21 | accessdate=2007-07-01]2007
After coming to America, Kipyego continued her running career, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win an NCAA cross country individual championship.cite news | url= http://www.tribstar.com/sports/local_story_325000638.html | title=Kenya native from Texas Tech cruises to victory in women’s race | publisher="
Tribune-Star " | date=2006-11-21 | accessdate=2007-06-30] In December 2006, she was chosen as the top female college cross-country athlete in the United States. This honor made her the recipient of the 2007Honda Award and gave her an automatic nomination for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year award. [cite news | url=http://www.insidetexasrunning.com/news/hondaawardDec06Kipyego.html | title=Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech University Voted Honda Award | publisher="Inside Texas Running" | date=2006-12-08 | accessdate=2007-06-30] Kipyego is also one of only seven women in NCAA history to win four individual track titles during a single season. [cite news | url= http://www.ncaasports.com/track-and-field/story/10212767 | title=Notebook: On his heels | publisher=NCAAsports.com | date=2007-06-05 | accessdate=2007-07-01]On
November 19 , 2007, Kipyego won her second consecutive cross country national championship. In doing so, she set a new course record, beating the previous one by 18 seconds. [cite news | url=http://www.redraiders.com/stories/112007/tra_112007010.shtml | title=Tech's Kipyego repeats title in record fashion | publisher="Lubbock Avalanche-Journal " | date=2006-11-20 | accessdate=2007-12-05]2008
As the nation's top collegiate female cross country runner, Kipyego was selected to receive the 2008 Honda Award. [cite news | url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/120507/col_120507018.shtml | title=Kipyego wins second Honda award | publisher="
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal " | date=2007-12-05 | accessdate=2007-12-05]On
14 March , 2008, Kipyego won her sixth national title at the 2008NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 5000 m, again with a world-leading time. [cite news | url=http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/031408aaa.html | title=Kipyego Repeats in the 5000M to Win Sixth NCAA Title| publisher="Texas Tech Athletics" | date=2008-03-14 | accessdate=2008-03-15] The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Kipyego the USTFCCCA Division I Indoor Track & Field Women's Track Athlete of the Year for 2008. [cite news | url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/031908/red_259266983.shtml | title=Local Sports Briefly: Kipyego named top track athlete | publisher="Lubbock Avalanche-Journal " | date=2008-03-19 | accessdate=2008-03-22] Later, the association also awarded Kipyego the Women’s Athlete of the Year honor for the 2008 outdoor season as well. [cite news | url=http://www.big12sports.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/061708aaa.html | title=Kipyego, Anderson Earn USTFCCCA Postseason Honors | publisher=Big 12 Conference | date=2008-06-17 | accessdate=2008-06-18]On
13 June , 2008, Kipyego won her seventh national title at the 2008NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 5000 m, with an NCAA meet record time. [cite news | url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061408/spo_290619083.shtml | title=Medals from Carter, Kipyego have Tech off to fast start at national competition | publisher= "Lubbock Avalanche Journal " | date=2008-06-14 | accessdate=2008-06-14] She followed that performance with a second-place finish in the 1500 m on14 June , 2008. [cite news | url=http://www.athletics-weekly.com/newsarticle.php?id=569 | title=Hannah England romps to NCAA 1500m title | publisher= "Athletics Weekly " | date=2008-06-15 | accessdate=2008-06-18]Future
Even though academically Kipyego is a junior, part of her athletic eligibility will end in the winter of 2008. She can continue to compete in cross country and indoor events but not in outdoor events. Kipyego stated that she will remain at Texas Tech to complete her nursing studies but has not decided whether she will continue to enter college-level events or turn pro before her senior year.cite news | url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061108/spo_288971931.shtml | title=Kipyego faces tough decision this summer | publisher= "
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal " | date=2008-06-11 | accessdate=2008-06-18]Major Achievements
Nursing
When Kipyego was four years old, her father died, leaving her mother alone to raise seven children. The family was poor and her mother was often sick. When Kipyego was eleven, her brother's friend suffered an injury in a bicycle accident. Kipyego ran seven miles to the nearest clinic but the doctor was intoxicated and kicked her out. These events gave Kipyego the desire to become a nurse so should could help provide better healthcare in her native country.cite news | url= http://www.redraiders.com/stories/060307/tra_060307034.shtml | title=Texas Tech's Kipyego has one last task before starting next phase of her life | publisher="
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal " | date=2007-06-03 | accessdate=2007-06-30]Kipyego first enrolled at
South Plains College inLevelland, Texas . After transferring to Texas Tech, she applied to thenursing program in February 2007. Kipyego received an acceptance letter and began her first nursing class onJuly 5 , 2007.References
External links
*iaaf name|id=182005
* [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/c-xc/mtt/kipyego_sally00.html Player Bio]
* [http://www.eliterunning.com/features/74/ Interview]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
