October 26, 1998

Texas Tech to Face Tough Test
The Red Raider men will face one of their toughest tests of the season at the Big 12 championships. Every team in the Big 12 except one has finished in third or higher at a meet this season. Colorado will look to defend its Big 12 championship for the third year in a row.

Texas Tech to Race Against the Best The Big 12 Championships will feature some of the nation's best women's cross country teams. Kansas State is No. 18, Colorado No. 20, Baylor No. 21 and Oklahoma State received votes in the Oct. 20 poll. Every team in the conference has has either won or placed second in competition this fall. The league has won a combined 16 women's cross country 16 women's cross country meets this fall.

Meet Notes

Transfer Ngetich Lead Texas Tech
In his first season with Texas Tech Cross Country, Samson Ngetich (Londiani, Kenya) has emerged as the top performer on the team. His time of 27:05 was the fastest mark by any member of the team in the 8K this season. Ngetich transfered from Jomo Kenyatta University in Kenya to Texas Tech in the spring of 1997. He competed in distance events for track and field last season.

Smith Leads the Red Raiders
First-year coach Dave Smith leads the men's and women's team into Lincoln this weekend. Smith, a former Big Ten champion in the 10,000 meters at Michigan State University, has been working to help both teams climb up in the Big 12 standings at this year's championships. He will also be in charge of distance events for track and field in the spring.

Leigh Has Another Solid Year
David Leigh (Grapevine, Texas) has put together another solid year for Texas Tech. The junior and two year letter winner recorded the second fastest time of the season running a 27:06 at the Cowboy Jamboree to finish one second behind teammate Samson Ngetich. Leigh was also one of two runners on the Red Raider's Big 12 championship roster to compete in all five races this season.

WWW.TEXASTECH.COM The Texas Tech Athletic Department's offical site is the source for all information on Red Raider Cross Country and Track and Field. Through the site, you can access information on past races and upcoming events.

Koppes Leads Way for Texas Tech
Kristen Koppes (Redding, Calif) has been the top performer for the Red Raider women's cross country team this fall. The junior has been the top Texas Tech finisher in all four races she competed in during the season. She holds the team's top time in the 5K with 18:24 at the Texas A&M Invitational and was the champion of the Red Raider Invitational. With last season's top runners, Evetter Turner and Leigh Daniels, redshirting for cross country Koppes has been an essential part of the team's success.

Nolen Finishes Season Strong Courtney Nolen (Houston, Texas) finished the regular season in strong fashion finishing in 24th at the Texas A&M Invitational. Her time of 19:05 was the second best mark of any Texas Tech women's runner this fall. Her time was over two minutes faster than her performance at the Red Raider Invitational to open the season.

Hangge & Nolen Top Finishers Courtney Nolen (Houston, Texas) and Tara Hangge (Richland, Wash.) were two of Texas Tech's top and most consistent runners in 1998. The duo was the team's top three finishers at every meet this season. Hangge took second at the Red Raider Invitational and Red Raider Classic Her top time of the season came at the Texas A&M Invitaional where she ran a 19:22 5K. Nolen's best finish was at the Red Raider Invitational where she finished fourth.

Men's 1998 Roster for Big 12 Championships

Name               Cl-Exp     Hometown/Last School    
Alex Aldaco       Sr - 2L     Denton, Texas/Adams St.Univ 
Gary Bodony       Jr - Sq.    Rantoul, Ill./Rantoul Township HS   
David Leigh       Jr - 2L     Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine HS       
Samson Ngetich    Sr - Sq.    Londiani, Kenya/Jomo Kenyatta Univ.     
Chris Thomas      So - Sq.    Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock HS   
Jesse Williams    Jr - 2L     Rantoul, Ill./Rantoul Township HS
Ismael Dutchover  So - Sq.    Balhorea, Texas/Balhorea HS
George Odom       Jr - Sq     Cedar Hill, Texas/UT -Arlington Cedar Hill HS

Name               Cl-Exp     Hometown/Last School    
Amber Affeldt      Sr - 3L    Coon Rapids Minn./Coon Rapids HS    
Paige Bradberry    Jr - Sq    Hubbard, Texas/Klein Oak HS
Tara Hangge        Jr - 1L    Richland, Wash/Eisenhower HS    
Keeli Hanzelka     Jr - 1L    La Porte, Texas/La Porte HS 
Kristen Koppes     Jr - 2L    Redding, Calif/Foothill HS  
Ngozi Iwu          So - 1L    Houston, Texas/Hastings HS  
Courtney Nolen     Jr - 1L    Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS 
Aimee Roberson     Sr - 2L    Aspermont, Texas/Aspermont HS

Event                    Finish (Out of)    Top Finisher
Red Raider Invitational     1 (3)           Kristen Koppes - 1 - 19:48.2
Nebraska Invitational       6 (7)           Kristen Koppes - 17 - 19:01.9
Cowboy Jamboree (OSU)       9 (15)          Kristen Koppes - 25 - 19:11
Red Raider Classic          2 (4)           Tara Hangge - 2 - 19:43.11
Texas A&M Invitatioanl      7 (19)          Kristen Koppes - 12 - 18:42

Event                    Finish (Out of)    Top Finisher
Red Raider Invitational     3 (4)           Samson Ngetich - 4 - 28:43.1
Nebraska Invitational       7 (7)           David Leigh - 83 - 28:50.30
Cowboy Jamboree (OSU)     15 (16)           Samson Ngetich - 79 - 27:05
Red Raider Classic          4 (5)           Jesse Williams - 13 - 28:35.18
Texas A&M Invitational    18 (23)           Samson Ngetich - 52 - 27:50    .

Samson Ngetich - Senior - Londiani, Kenya
Red Raider Invitational               4 - 28:43.1
Cowboy Jamboree                        79 - 27:05
Texas A&M Invitational                  53 -27:50

David Leigh - Junior - Grapevine, Texas
Red Raider Invitational               15 -30:01.3
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational   83 - 28:50.3
Cowboy Jamboree                        80 - 27:06
Red Raider Classic                  20 - 29:04.61
Texas A&M Invitational                 63 - 28:07

Gary Bodony - Junior - Rantoul, Illinois
Red Raider Invitatioanl              16 - 30:04.8
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational   98 - 29:11.0
Cowboy Jamboree                       138 - 29:30
Red Raider Classic                  16 - 28:48.04
Texas A&M Invitational                133 - 30:02

Chris Thomas - Sophomore - Lubbock, Texas
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational  110 - 29:31.6
Cowboy Jamboree                       108 - 28:06
Red Raider Classic                   14 - 28:38.4
Texas A&M Invitational                104 - 29:03

Alex Aldaco - Senior - Denton, Texas
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational  165 - 31:13.5

Jesse Williams - Junior - Rantoul, Illinois
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational   98 - 29:08.4
Cowboy Jamboree                       114 - 28:10
Red Raider Classic                  13 - 28:35.18
Texas A&M Invitational                127 - 29:37

Ismael Dutchover - Sophomore - Balhorea, Texas
Cowboy Jamboree                       132 - 28:53
Red Raider Classic                  19 - 29:02.82
Texas A&M Invitational                100 - 28:58

George Odom - Junior - Cedar Hill, Texas

Kristen Koppes - Junior - Redding, California
Red Raider Invitational              1 - 19:48.2
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational  17 - 19:01.9
Cowboy Jamboree                       25 - 19:11
Texas A&M Invitational                12 - 18:24

Tara Hangge - Junior - Richland, Washington
Red Raider Invitational              2 - 20:36.1
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational  31 - 19:35.4
Cowboy Jamboree                     36 - 19:35.4
Red Raider Classic                  2 - 19:43.11
Texas A&M Invitational                31 - 19:22

Courtney Nolen - Junior - Houston, Texas
Red Raider Invitational              4 - 21:43.9
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational  64 - 20:24.2
Cowboy Jamboree                    43 - 19:46.78
Red Raider Classic                  5 - 20:26.32
Texas A&M Invitational                24 - 19:05

Keeli Hanzelka - Junior - La Porte, Texas
Red Raider Invitatioanl              6 - 22:21.1
Cowboy Jamboree                       78 - 20:56
Red Raider Classic                 11 - 22:07.16
Texas A&M Invitational                91 - 20:54

Aimee Roberson - Senior - Aspermont, Texas
Red Raider Invitational             10 - 22:55.4
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Inv.        103 - 21:07.16
Red Raider Classic                 10 - 21:46,94
Texas A&M Invitational                78 - 20:34

Amber Affeldt - Senior - Coon Rapids, Minn.
Red Raider Invitatioanl             13 - 23:15.8
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Inv.         126 - 21:44.8
Cowboy Jamboree                       99 - 21:55
Texas A&M Invitational               104 - 21:18

Ngozi Iwu - Sophomore - Houston, Texas
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Inv.         148 - 22:16.0
Cowboy Jamboree                       96 - 21:40
Texas A&M Invitational                95 - 21:00

Paige Bradberry - Junior - Hubbard, Texas
Red Raider Invitational             17 - 23:39.0
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Inv.         139 - 22:07.8

1998 Texas Tech Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 12 - Red Raider Invitational - Lubbock, Texas
Sept. 19 - Nebraska Invitational -Lincoln, Nebraska
Oct.   3 - Okla. St. Cowboy Jamboree -Stillwater, Oklahoma
Oct.  10 - Red Raider Classic -Lubbock, Texas
Oct.  17 - Texas A&M Invitational -College Station, Texas
Oct.  31 - Big 12 Championship -Lincoln, Nebraska