Courtesy of Texas Tech Athletic Media Relations 

Three may be a lucky number for Texas Tech senior Sally Kipyego as she was named for the third-straight year as the Honda Award winner - given to the nation's top runner in cross country. The honor was based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program, which is now in its 33rd year.

The eight-time NCAA Champion became the first in the history of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards to win three-straight awards in cross country. The senior capped her final cross country season by becoming the first runner, both male and female, in NCAA Division I history to win three-straight NCAA cross country titles.

Kipyego also became a three-time Big 12 and Mountain Regional Champion and helped the Lady Raiders win their first Big 12 and Mountain Regional titles in cross country.

The Kenyan native finished her cross country career undefeated and set a NCAA championship meet and course record in a time of 19:29 at Terre Haute, Ind., this past November.

Honda Award winners in basketball, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field will be announced in the coming months. The Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year will be determined by separate balloting involving all NCAA-member institutions and the winner will receive the Honda-Broderick Cup in New York in June 2009.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. sponsors the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Texas Tech will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards their general women’s athletic scholarship fund for Kipyego’s award.