May 6, 2008

IRVING, Texas--Brent Vaughn (Colorado) was named the Big 12 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week, while Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) was named Big 12 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week for meets of April 29 - May 5. This is the second weekly accolade for Kipyego this season and the first honor of Vaughn's outdoor track career.

Big 12 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week
Brent Vaughn, Colorado, Sr., Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill
Vaughn shattered the school record in the 5000-meter run, finishing runner-up at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational. Vaughn ran a mark of 13 minutes, 18.46 seconds, surpassing Jorge Torres' previous record of 13.24.56 also set at Stanford in 2003. Vaughn was one of five collegians to compete along with 19 professional harriers represented by Nike, Reebok and Adidas. The time is the fastest collegiate mark this season by 11 seconds and is the second fastest time run by an American this year.

Big 12 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week
Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, Jr., Marakwet, Kenya/South Plains College
Kipyego placed third at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational 10000-meter run with a time of 31:25.45, breaking her own school and NCAA record by over 30 seconds. The time is tops in the nation by more than 45 seconds and automatically qualifies her for the NCAA Championships in June. The six-time national champion is the fastest collegiate runner in both the 5000 and 10000-meters as she was just over two seconds from breaking the NCAA record in the 5000 two weeks ago.

2008 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Men
March 25    Stephen Pifer, Colorado, Sr.
April 1        4 x 100-meter Relay Team, Texas A&M 
                   (Richard Adu-Bobie, Gerald Phiri, Chris Dykes, Justin Oliver)
April 8        Leonel Manzano, Texas, Sr.
April 15      Julian Reid, Texas A&M, Fr.
April 22      Billy Nelson, Colorado, Sr.
April 29      Leonel Manzano, Texas, Sr.
May 6        Brent Vaughn, Colorado, Sr.

Women
March 25    4 x 100-meter Relay Team, Texas A&M 
                   (Elizabeth Adeoti, Porscha Lucas, Simone Facey, Allison George)
April 1        Porscha Lucas, Texas A&M, So.
April 8        Lisa Koll, Iowa State, So.
April 15      Jessica Beard, Texas A&M, Fr.
April 22      Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, Jr.
April 29      Leslie Cole, Oklahoma, Jr.
                  D'Andra Carter, Texas Tech, Jr.
May 6        Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech, Jr.