Oklahoma State University Athletics
Apprehension Awaits Cowgirls in Manhattan
June 04, 2003 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
The 1998 Big 12 Indoor proved disastrous as the Cowgirls finished last. This year OSU has much more to look forward to.
"In a way I'm really apprehensive about this weekend," said Catrina Acosta OSU women's track and field coach. "Last year we knew what was going to happen, we expected it and we were just living through the year. Now we really don't know what to expect."
With three individuals provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships to go along with the Distance Medley Relay team the Cowgirls have already proven that they are new and improved.
Still, the Cowgirls go into the Big 12 Championships with modest goals compared to other Big 12 Schools. "The top half of the Big 12, that would be respectable. That would make me very happy, you would have thought I had won," Acosta said.
"After being twelfth last year, being sixth would be huge."
The Distance Medley Relay team has qualified for national with a time of 11:25.58 and is the favorite to win the Big 12 Championship.
Other national qualifiers that should make some noise at the Big 12 Championship include Andrea Holloway whose throw of 50-5.5 inches is the ninth best in the country this season and third in the Big 12. Megan Robbins in the pole vault and Hanna Smedstatd in the 3,000m.
"Andrea (Holloway) is very confident that she can throw 52 feet and she believes that she can do it and that is very nice to see," Acosta said.
Megan Robbins will be in the mix of things this weekend in the pole vault, while junior Hanna Smedstad is the favorite in the 3,000m. Smedstad's time of 9:28.53 is tops in the Big 12.
"The only thing is we have a questionable factor is that we have a lot of first time people here and we have a lot of freshman. You never know how people are going to react in a big meet. I'm looking for some of our older people to provide some guidance to our young people," Acosta said.
One of the girls Acosta is hoping will surprise the Big 12 is freshman Tiffany Davis.
"Tiffany (Davis) is starting to get better and better as the weeks go by and the 60m hurdles are definitely going to play into her favor. She just needs a little extra time to be more competitive with some of those older people," Acosta said.
Two-time All-American Sherita Jackson should make a run at a Big 12 title in the 200m. Jackson finished fourth at nationals last year behind to Texas runners that will once again contend.
The Championships will start at 8 a.m. on Friday and conclude at 7:15 on Saturday with the 1600m relay.
