Oklahoma State University Athletics
Women's Cross Country Team Ranked 25th in Country
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
October 18, 1998
STILLWATER, Okla. - An 11th-place finish at the Bob Timmons Invitational in Lawrence, Kan. this past weekend allowed Oklahoma State's women's cross country team to be ranked 25th in the country.
The last time the Cowgirls received national rankings was in 1989, when the team was fifth in the country.
"It has been a drought and a half," said Cowgirl Head Coach Catrina Acosta. "We are doing great right now, but we still have room for improvement. Yesterday, when the polls were released, I was all smiles. Today, it's back to business."
Acosta said the team was excited to be ranked, but still hopes to improve.
"The girls weren't inflated at all. In fact, they said, 'We can do better than that' as soon as they realized Colorado was ranked above them," Acosta said.
Acosta said the team went to Lawrence with one goal in mind.
"We ran there to be nationally ranked. And that's what we did," Acosta said.
In order for the team to participate in the NCAA Championships, OSU must be one of the top two teams in the Midwest Region.
Their performance in Lawrence placed the Cowgirls in the number-two spot in the Midwest Region, Acosta said.
"There were a lot of big dog teams in Kansas. We ran with runners who will be at nationals. However, I do expect us to drop in the polls this week because we don't run," Acosta said.
This week also gave some relief to the Cowgirls as they began what Acosta likes to call the "Peaking" phase.
"Today was the last day of morning practices. They have been running hard since summer, and now we are peaking - we want to start running steadily fast. Next week, we will quit weight-training. It is time for them to hold the speed," Acosta said.
Sophomore Hanna Smedstad continued to be the leading runner for the team in Lawrence, placing 14 overall. She has three individual titles as well.
For the second straight week, Smedstad received Big 12 Runner of the Week awards.
"Hanna's doing great, but she still has room for improvement. I think the best thing about her is that she is a gracious winner," Acosta said.
Last season, Smedstad only competed in the first meet. She ended up redshirting the rest of the season after an injury.
"Hanna is my team leader. Everybody looks to her for guidance. Her absence last year was very obvious. It was the lousiest cross country season I have ever had," Acosta said.
Acosta said at the beginning of the season that her team's goal was to make it to nationals this year.
"We have worked hard to get it all together. And, we are still focusing on making it to nationals. I give all the credit to the girls. They just get better every week," Acosta said.
