Kithuka Named National Athlete of the Year
By: Britton Drown - Texas Tech University
Updated: November 20, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas
Tech junior cross country runner Kennedy Kithuka has
been
tabbed the National Male Athlete of the Year by the United States Track
and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association of America for the 2012
cross country season.
The
announcement comes Tuesday after Kithuka
became the first male athlete in Texas Tech history to capture the NCAA
Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.
"This is a great honor for Kennedy to
cap an outstanding year of running." Texas Tech head cross country coach Jon Murraysaid.
"After all of his dominate performances throughout the year it is a well deserved honor."
The Thika, Kenya native is the first Texas
Tech product to be named the National Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA since former Lady Raider Sally
Kipyego earned
the recognition in 2008. Kipyego was named Athlete of the Year
on four occasions for both cross country and track and field during her
unprecedented career which featured nine NCAA National Championships.
Kithuka,
the first Texas Tech men's All-American
cross country athlete since 2006, finished first overall at the 2012
NCAA Championship meet in Louisville, Ky. with a course record time of
28:31.3 at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. He went undefeated during seven meets
this season which included a first place finish
at the Big 12 Championships in October.
