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.
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