 "Photo: Sam Grenadier")
 "Photo: Sam Grenadier")
 "Photo: Sam Grenadier")
After winning three national titles at Texas Tech this season and becoming the first Red Raider to win two national titles at one event, sophomore distance runner Sally Kipyego uses more than just her feet to excel in life.
"It's extremely a great honor," Kipyego said of winning her two indoor national titles in 2007. "It's a blessing to me. I was extremely emotional after winning the race."
Kipyego began her running career at Tech last fall and immediately attracted attention because of her unmistakable ability to win races.
She won her first National Championship in November at the NCAA Cross Country Championships when she clocked a time of 20:11.1 in the 6K race, making her the first Red Raider ever to win a national cross country title.
"It was a big deal because it was the biggest race I've ever run," she said. "It was kind of a surprise to me because I knew I was going to do good, but I didn't expect to do win nationals. It was really overwhelming when I won my first national championship."
Kipyego said after she won, she immediately called home to brag to her older brothers, who are professional runners, as well as the rest of her six siblings and parents.
"I talked to my brother and my mother," Kipyego said.
She said both of her brothers were impressed.
Kipyego's next two national titles came at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championship in early March when she won the 5,000-meter and 3,000-meter in a period of 24 hours.
Kipyego, a native of Marakwet, Kenya, has lived in Lubbock for six months and said she enjoys the West Texas area.
"I love this place," she said. "I love the people here. "
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and going to local parks to relax, but she said she looks forward to any opportunity to travel.
"My favorite place so far that I've been to is Maine," Kipyego said. "We slept in Boston, which was a fun city."
Every morning, Kipyego's alarm clock sounds at 6 a.m., meaning it's time for her morning run.
"I always do three to four miles, which lasts 30 to 40 minutes," Kipyego said. "Then I come home and cook breakfast and am out the door by 7:30 (a.m.), because I have class every single day at 8 (a.m.)."
Kipyego's favorites classes include general science and biology.
"I actually applied to nursing school at Tech in February," she said. "So I am just waiting for my results to see if I get accepted. I hope to get into nursing school and continue to stay here and graduate."
Kipyego said she would like to run for a club, like Nike or Adidas once she graduates to continue her running career.
She said before each game, one pre-race ritual remains the same to relieve tension.
"I pray before every race," Kipyego said. "On the line, I close my eyes and say a quick prayer."
Growing up in Kenya, Kipyego was anxious to come to the United States.
"The only way I could come over here and go to school was to get a scholarship, and I saw an opportunity in running," she said. "Once I realized I was good and had the talent, I knew I could earn a scholarship."
Kipyego then made Kenya's national team and earned a chance to run in races throughout Europe.
However, one setback almost caused Kipyego to lose her chance to run in the United States when she suffered a stress fracture in her left leg.
"I got injured for two years before I moved to the South Plains," she said. "That took almost everything out of me. I had to stop running for two years, so when I came back, I had to start all over again - that was harder than when I started in the first place. When you go down, your body just shuts down. To start all over again was so difficult."
As the youngest child with six brothers and sisters, three of each gender, Kipyego said she had many role models when growing up.
Her two older brothers Chris and Mike Kipyego are professional runners, and she looks to them for guidance, even though she holds three national championships.
She said all her family members currently live in Kenya, and she will return to Kenya for the first time since arriving to the South Plains to see her family this summer.
"I am going to compete and run in trials at home, then after that, go visit my family," Kipyego said.
Tech track and field distance coach Jon Murray said Kipyego is one of the smartest runners he has seen in his career.
"She's a great leader," Murray said. "She helps elevate the whole group with her work ethics and positive attitude. She knows her competition and how they're going to react. She has very good race presence."
In the 3,000-meter race at the NCAA National Championships in March, Kipyego was trailing through the entire race. However, during the last three laps, Kipyego burst ahead of the pack, leaving no chances for her competitors to pass her, Murray said.
"That's actually a smart way of doing it," Murray said. "She ran a hard race the night before. She ran with the risk of blowing up because of being exhausted. To start out a little bit slower was actually a really smart race tactic."
After Kipyego won her second and third national title in March, Murray had two words for her.
"Good job," Murray said. "She's business, I mean she knows she's done a good job. The progress she's made since last year, that's hard to do."
Murray said the chances of Kipyego winning another national championship are highly probable.
"I'd never bet against her," Murray said.
Kittley said while recruiting Kipyego, Tech was in stiff competition with UTEP, but she decided to come to Tech in order to become a nurse, and thus far she has been a great addition.
"She just brings what you want to a team," Kittley said. "She's an unbelievably great leader without saying anything. That's what Sally Kipyego does for your team. She allows everyone else to step up. I think there is a lot of expectations from home to do well and be successful. She comes from a history of winning. In recruiting, we always look for state champion people because they know how to win. I think we found that winner in Sally. I think she has the potential to be the most decorated athlete to ever come through Texas Tech."
Be the first to comment on this article!