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Counting down the top 10 Texas Tech sports moments of 2019

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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No. 3: Men’s track and field captures first national title

In a normal year, any national championship would top a year-end list.  But because of Chris Beard’s basketball team, the accomplishment of Wes Kittley’s men’s track team is just third on our ranking.  After all, only a fraction of the fan base actually tuned in to see this event live, unlike the basketball team’s NCAA Tournament.

Receiving points from every athlete that competed on the final day of the event, Tech ran away with the National Title before even the final event was held.  Making it all the more satisfying for Red Raider fans was the fact that Tech claimed the first-ever national championship in school history in a men’s sport in Austin on the track of rival Texas.

This was only the second national title of any kind for Tech to go along with the 1993 Lady Raider championship.  And it was a long time coming for Kittley.

Leading the Red Raider track program since 2000, he’s been the best coach on campus.  In that time, he’s produced nine Big 12 Team Championships, 28 NCAA Champions, and 13 Olympians but had not been able to bring home a national title until this May.

That changed thanks in large part to the nation’s best sprinter Divine Oduduru.  In the 100-yard-dash, he ran a blistering 9.86 and in the 200, he crossed the tape in under 20 seconds to win both events.  In addition, he anchored the Texas Tech 4 x 100 relay team to a gold medal.

But the man who pushed Tech over the top was Duke Kicinski who won the discus throw with an effort of 205′-2″.  His ten points locked up the win for Kittley’s team and set into motion a long-awaited celebration for a man who might be able to claim to be the best collegiate track coach in the nation.

The Rhule, Texas native is also, by all accounts, one of the kindest and most genuine people in West Texas.  That’s why everyone was so excited to see him finally reach the top of the mountain.

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