Feb. 27, 2009

Results

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas Tech track squad won two titles on the first day of the Big 12 Championships as the women sit in second with 35 points and the men are in ninth with six points.

The women's distance medley relay of Gladys Kipsang, Jonisha Boleware, Asia Diaz and Sally Kipyego set a school-record and ran a NCAA provisional time of 11:13.77 to win the race. It is the second time in three years that Tech has won the women's DMR.

"I am happy and we ran strong," Kipsang said after the race. "I am very happy for the win and the team."

"I just felt good running with a bunch of All-Americans and all-conference runners, I just felt privileged." said Boleware

"We are just happy we won today because we knew we could get 10 points for the team and wanted to run for the team." Diaz said.

"I am super excited," Kipyego exclaimed. "I wasn't even planning on running the DMR and it worked prefect. It is my last Big 12 Championships and I wanted to do it for the school and being able to run with these ladies was amazing. It is a blessing to be able to run with these girls and we did it for the team today."

Lillian Badaru won Tech's first individual title of the Big 12 Championships. The sophomore ran a personal-best and NCAA provisional time of 16:16.33 to win the event and set a facility record.

"I am so happy to win. I was hoping and praying to run a good time for nationals and 16:16 is a personal best for me." Bardaru said after the race. "I was working hard everyday and I am just really happy with my time and winning."

Amanda Alley, a year after redshirting, placed second in the women's pole vault. She cleared 12'-7.50" scoring seven points due to tying with Rachel Birtles of Nebraska. It is her fifth All-Big 12 honor of her career.

Ozie Okolie earned her fourth all-conference honor with a NCAA provisional mark of 64'-10.75" finishing in second place.

Anthony Flemons earned All-Big 12 honors after placing sixth in the men's long jump. He jumped a NCAA provisional mark of 25'-5.25".

The men's distance medley relay of Silas Kemboi, Lamont Adams, Zack Dawon and Gilbert Limo earned all-conference honors by finishing sixth. The group ran a time of 9:53.65.

Chuck Zavala sits in third place after the first day of the heptathlon. He set two new personal-bests on a way to 3,165 points. Zavala's personal-bests came in the long jump (23'-5.50") and the shot put (47'-3.75"). He cleared 6'-5.50" in the high jump and ran a 7.28 in the 60M.

Nick Green is 12th in the heptathlon as he set personal bests in three events. The personal bests came in the 60M (7.09), long jump (22'-2.25"), and the shot put (38'-11.50"). He finished the day clearing 5'-11.50" in the high jump and a total of 2,851 points.

Tech had Trudeann Clarke and Gil Roberts both qualify in the 400M. Clarke ran a 54.62 to qualify fifth on the women's side and Gil Roberts ran a NCAA provisional of 47.17 and had the sixth-fastest time in the men's.

Two Lady Raiders qualified for the finals of the 60M hurdles. Tori Smith ran an 8.57 to qualify fifth and Sandra Iwunze ran the seventh-fastest time with an 8.59.

The Red Raiders followed suit in the 60M hurdles as two qualified for the finals. Omo Osaghae ran a NCAA provisional time of 7.81 to win his heat. Jamele Mason ran a 7.98 to qualify seventh.

Terra Evans ran a time of 7.46 and was the eighth qualifier for finals in the women's 60M.

The men had one qualifier in the 600Y as Rodney Mims ran the eighth fastest with a 1:10.81.

Limo ran a time of 4:07.08, the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the mile to advance to the finals of the mile tomorrow.

Dawson ran a 2:26.18, the sixth-fastest time overall, to qualify for the finals of the 1000M. Diaz qualified second with a time of 2:51.46 on the women's side of the 1000M.

Kipsang ran the third-fastest time with a 2:10.57 in the 800M preliminaries as she will run in the finals tomorrow.

Nebraska leads both the women's side with 56 points and men's side with 42.50 points

Tech will begin the final day of the Big 12 Championships at 3 p.m. tomorrow and live results and video of the meet can be seen at www.big12sports.com.