Oklahoma State University Athletics
12th-Ranked Cowboys Headed to NCAA Championships
November 16, 2006 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Oklahoma State's men's cross country team will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., this weekend to compete in the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
This marks the 13th time in 14 years that OSU has earned a spot at the championship meet. The Cowboys are ranked 12th in the country after a convincing showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday. OSU captured top honors in the race behind strong performances by senior Joe Gray and junior David Jankowski. The first-place finish gave them an automatic bid to the national meet. It was Oklahoma State's third regional title in the last four years.
Dave Smith is in his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant for the last four years. When asked what a trip to Terre Haute means to him in his first year as a head coach, Smith said that getting there is only a part of what his team wants to accomplish.
“This program has a long tradition of advancing to the NCAA Championships,” Smith said. “And as exciting as that is, we not only want to make it, but we want to improve on our previous marks when we get there. Last year we finished eighth, so we want to go in there and finish higher than eighth.”
“Our ultimate goal as a program is to win championships. We want to keep advancing and keep progressing to the point that we put ourselves in a position to do that.”
Oklahoma State has been led all year by veterans like Gray and Jankowski, but much of the Cowboys' success can be credited to the depth that has been provided by the youth of the team. Redshirt freshman Daniel Watts finished 13th at the Big 12 Championships, earning Conference Newcomer of Year honors, and redshirt sophomore Alejandro Ruiz has been a vital part of the Cowboys' system this year.
“One thing that has made this team so good this year is the depth that some of our younger guys have provided,” Smith said. “That has allowed us to continue improving despite losing some of our key runners to injuries.”
Seniors Joe Gray and Michael Breshears will be joined by juniors Jankowski and Brian Ehlis at this years championships race. Also running for the Pokes will be sophomores Ruiz and Matt Barnes-Smith, along with Watts.
At last year's championships, Jankowski finished 39th to lead the Pokes to an eighth-place finish, the team's highest since finishing fourth in 1996 and third in 1995.
The 68th Annual Men's Championship Meet will be hosted by Indiana State at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course. The men's 10k race will begin Monday at 12:15 p.m.
This marks the 13th time in 14 years that OSU has earned a spot at the championship meet. The Cowboys are ranked 12th in the country after a convincing showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday. OSU captured top honors in the race behind strong performances by senior Joe Gray and junior David Jankowski. The first-place finish gave them an automatic bid to the national meet. It was Oklahoma State's third regional title in the last four years.
Dave Smith is in his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant for the last four years. When asked what a trip to Terre Haute means to him in his first year as a head coach, Smith said that getting there is only a part of what his team wants to accomplish.
“This program has a long tradition of advancing to the NCAA Championships,” Smith said. “And as exciting as that is, we not only want to make it, but we want to improve on our previous marks when we get there. Last year we finished eighth, so we want to go in there and finish higher than eighth.”
“Our ultimate goal as a program is to win championships. We want to keep advancing and keep progressing to the point that we put ourselves in a position to do that.”
Oklahoma State has been led all year by veterans like Gray and Jankowski, but much of the Cowboys' success can be credited to the depth that has been provided by the youth of the team. Redshirt freshman Daniel Watts finished 13th at the Big 12 Championships, earning Conference Newcomer of Year honors, and redshirt sophomore Alejandro Ruiz has been a vital part of the Cowboys' system this year.
“One thing that has made this team so good this year is the depth that some of our younger guys have provided,” Smith said. “That has allowed us to continue improving despite losing some of our key runners to injuries.”
Seniors Joe Gray and Michael Breshears will be joined by juniors Jankowski and Brian Ehlis at this years championships race. Also running for the Pokes will be sophomores Ruiz and Matt Barnes-Smith, along with Watts.
At last year's championships, Jankowski finished 39th to lead the Pokes to an eighth-place finish, the team's highest since finishing fourth in 1996 and third in 1995.
The 68th Annual Men's Championship Meet will be hosted by Indiana State at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course. The men's 10k race will begin Monday at 12:15 p.m.
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