March 19, 2008

Irving, Texas-- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the 2008 Division I National Indoor Track & Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year. Both the men's and women's Track Athlete of the Year come from the Big 12 Conference as Leonel Manzano (Texas) and Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego were honored with this award. Also claiming a national award was Jason Vigilante of Texas, receiving the honor of Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.

Manzano helped lead the ninth-ranked Texas Longhorns to a third place finish at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish ever for the program. Manzano led the charge picking up 20 points at the meet becoming the first Longhorn track athlete to win two NCAA titles. He won the mile in 4:04.45 and anchored the Texas distance medley relay team to its first indoor relay title in school history. He also ran the anchor leg on the DMR that set a new world best earlier this year.

Kipyego finished another successful indoor season, defending her 5000-meter crown at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Her time of 15:31.91 beat the field by over 23 seconds and is currently the fastest time in the world. During the season, Kipyego dominated as she won the mile, 3000-meters and 5000-meters. The Kenyan native has won six NCAA titles in only two years of competition. She is also the two-time USTFCCCA Cross-Country Female Athlete of the Year and Honda Award Winner.

Vigilante coaches one of the finest middle-distance programs in the country. His tutoring helped his athletes finish third at the NCAA Championships. The distance medley relay squad won the NCAA title, the first indoor relay title in school history and two milers, Leo Manzano and Jake Morse, finished one-two at the NCAA meet. The DMR team also owns the world best time which was set on February 16, 2008 at the Tyson Invitational.