Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Heading To District V Championships
April 06, 2003 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
The Midwest district meet, hosted by the University of Illinois, is on the UI Blue Golf Course.
The Cowboys have captured the title the previous four years, while coach Dick Weis won district coach-of-the-year honors each year.
OSU will have to fight Minnesota, Drake and fellow Big 12 team Missouri to hold on to the title. Minnesota is the favorite to win this year's 28-team race. Other Big 12 teams competing at the meet are Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
"It's going to be close," OSU coach Dick Weis said. "The kids will have to do it. Everyone will have to run. It's going to be difficult. We will have to see an improvement. Our hope is to go to nationals for the seventh straight year."
Senior All-Big 12 runner Chuck Sloan, who finished third at the Big 12 Championships on Oct. 30, will lead the Cowboys in the 10k race. Last year, Sloan finished third in the 30:04.80 at the district meet. The Cowboys finished second at the meet.
"We ran well," Weis said. "It was our best meet of the season. We have had a tough season."
Ben Lake, Jerry Rainey, Bruce Wright, Junior Vasquez, Trey Vernon and Staffan Stegmark also will compete for the Cowboys.
The top two teams from each district automatically qualify for the 61st NCAA Championships on Nov. 22 in Bloomington, Ind. Thirteen additional teams will receive at-large bids to complete the field of 31. In addition to the teams of seven, 38 individuals also will be selected to attend nationals.
