Dec. 1, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego was named the Division I Women's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association after winning her third-straight NCAA Cross Country Championship.

Kipyego became the first woman to win three NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, when she ran a time of 19:29.to set the championship and course record this year in Terre Haute, Ind. She won her eighth NCAA title of her career and finished her cross country career undefeated.

It is Kipyego's third-straight Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year and her third-straight USTFCCCA honor for track or cross country. She also swept the 2008 indoor track, outdoor track and cross country awards.