Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Cross Country Opens Season At Wichita Gold Classic
August 31, 2000 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Aug. 31, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Opening the season on Saturday, the 17th-ranked Oklahoma State men's cross country team will compete to hold its title as the champion of the Wichita Gold Classic in Wichita, Kan.
The Gold Classic is the first of seven meets this year.
"It is the first meet, so the kids are keyed up," said OSU coach Dick Weis. "Getting off to a good start will create a positive frame of mind for the season."
Five of the top seven athletes are returning from last year's team, including seniors Junior Vasquez and Jerry Rainey. After a second-place finish at the Big12 meet and a third-place finish at the District V meet last season, the Cowboys finished 16th at nationals. The finish at nationals made it the seventh straight year for the team to place in the top 16.
"I think we have a chance of being better than we were last year," said Weis. "Right now, there are 13 people that have a good shot at seven spots. If they get behind now, it is going to take them a long time to catch up. These kids are good, and they are going to get better."
After the Wichita Gold Classic, the Cowboys will head to Princeton on Sept. 16. From there, they will come home to host the Cowboy Jamboree on Sept. 30.
