Oklahoma State University Athletics
Sloan Wins Big 12 Steeplechase Title
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
May 20, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore Cowboy steeplechaser Chuck Sloan struggled through a battle with defending Big 12 3,000m steeplechase champion Ray Hughes of Missouri but prevailed in the end to dethrone the Tiger track captain over the weekend on the Audrey J. Walton Track Stadium at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Sloan ran head to head with Hughes the entire distance before studder stepping going into the final straight. Hughes took the lead with 40 meters to go. Approaching the finish line, Hughes reacted to his apparent victory and threw his arms up in the air. Sloan took advantage of this and lunged head first through the finish line, winning the race.
In addition to Hughes, the race featured several talented individuals such as David Lichoro of Iowa State. Hughes and Lichoro both won All-America honors in 1997.
In 1997, Sloan also qualified for the NCAA meet finishing the race in 10th place with a time of 9:02.13.
In addition to being crowned Big 12 champion, Sloan set a new Big 12 meet record. Sloan's 8:52.30 performance bettered Hughes' 1997 9:04.61.
While the regular season winds down for the Cowboy squad, Sloan will be seeing more time on the track. He qualified for the national meet June 3-6 in Buffalo, N.Y. with his 8:42.06 performance on April 24 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa.
"Chuck should do very well at the national meet", said head men's track coach Dick Weis. "Our goal is to leave Buffalo with an All-America honor, but it all depends on the weather. No one ever knows what the weather will be like in Buffalo".
Following his run for a national championship, he will join the steeplechase field at the USA Track and Field Championships in New Orleans, La.
The steeplechase semifinals will be held on Friday, June 19 while the finals will be set for Sunday, June 21.
