Texas Tech Runner Kennedy Kithuka Named Mountain Region Male Athlete of The Year

A Texas Tech runner has received yet another award.

Red Raider senior cross country runner Kennedy Kithuka has been named as the Mountain Region Male Athlete of the Year.

The announcement came Tuesday from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Kithuka has now won the award in back-to-back seasons.

Kithuka finished first overall at the NCAA Mountain Region Championship meet last weekend, crossing the finish line with a time of 29 minutes, 23 seconds. He finished a full 16 seconds ahead of the closest competition.

He enters Saturday’s NCAA Championship meet undefeated in seven races this season and unbeaten in 14-straight races dating back to his 2012 NCAA Cross Country debut.

In 2012, Kithuka won the NCAA Championship with a time of 28:31.3, which is the fastest 10K time at an NCAA Championship in more than 30 years.

The NCAA Cross Country Championship will be held on Saturday in Terre Haute, Indiana.