Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cross Country to compete in Big 12 Championships
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
November 12, 1998
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's men's and women's cross country team will travel to Lincoln, Neb. this weekend to compete in the 1998 Big 12 Cross Country Championships.
"The competition is going to be tough," said Cowboy Head Coach Dick Weis. "OSU is ranked ninth in the country right now, but Colorado and Missouri are also ranked."
The Cowboys have had several injuries this season, including Steffan Stegmark with a broken foot. Weis said Stegmark's absence this weekend will surely hurt the Cowboys, considering he was consistently a top-seven runner.
Seniors Brian Young and Chuck Sloan, the two top finishers for the Cowboys this season, are prepared for Saturday.
"Brian and Chuck are running faster this year at this time than last year at this time. Brian was running sick for a while, but he is feeling better and running better now," Weis said.
Catrina Acosta, Cowgirl Head Coach, said the women's squad has an outside chance of winning the Big 12 Meet this year.
"There are six teams that are running really close-Nebraska, Baylor, Texas, Kansas State, Colorado and us," Acosta said. "I think the race will be decided by four or five points. That's a dog fight."
Acosta said after last year's finish in 10th place, she is excited to have the opportunity to win.
"This year, we are in a position where we could win. We have a chance. It may be a small chance, but it can still happen," Acosta said.
Acosta said she hasn't heard anyone pick one of the 12 women's schools to be a favorite in Saturday's meet.
"I don't think there is a clear-cut favorite. So, why not us? Why not now?" Acosta said.
Acosta looks for the Cowgirls most consistent runner, Hanna Smedstad, to compete well in the Championships.
"It makes me confident to have a two-time Big 12 Runner of the Week competing for us. But, you never know what will happen out there," Acosta said.
According to Weis, the Cowboys will have to focus on team effort if they want to win the Big 12 Championships this year.
"We know that the minimum requirement is to have five guys finish in the top 12 in order to win," Weis said.
Weis said his team has been performing solid this year, but hasn't provided anything outstanding.
"We have to run faster this weekend. That is the key to everything," Weis said.
