LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 14 Texas Tech Lady Raiders won its second-straight Big 12 Cross Country Championship after placing four runners in the top 10 and Tech’s top five women earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Championships held at Columbia, MO.
It is the cross country program’s second title overall and it came against a tough field beating the likes of No. 3 Colorado, No. 19 Iowa State and No. 26 Baylor. Tech is the second team other than Colorado to win two straight titles on the women’s side.
“Outstanding effort across the board, we scored less points than we did last year,” head coach Jon Murray said after the race. “It was a great team effort and the ladies ran their heart out.”
Lillian Badaru continued to lead the Lady Raiders placing fourth with a 21:22.35. Finishing only one second behind Badaru was Purity Biwott in fifth place. Biwott ran a 21:23.83 to earn All-Big 12 honors in her first year of competition for Tech.
Gladys Kipsang was the third Lady Raider to cross the line in the top 10 running a 21:41.51 placing seventh. Caroline Karunde ran the 6K course in 21:46.51 to finish in ninth. Winrose Karunde was the fifth to cross the line for the team wrapping up the team title in 13th place. She ran 21:56.41 and was named All-Big 12 for finishing in the top 15.
Michelle Guzman ran one of her best races of the season placing 26th in a time of 22:33.96. Kaci Westervelt (23:52.28) placed 68th while Katherine Priebe (24:59.61) and Meagan Willingham (25:51.73 were 90th and 95th, respectively.
Texastech.com
