Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Add Four to a Valuable Recruiting Class
August 05, 2006 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
With the additions, the Cowgirls add talented-depth that could help them improve off a tenth-place showing at last year's NCAA Championships.
Masai, a native of Nairobi, Kenya, comes from Moi Girls High School where she picked up running just a year ago. She brings with her an impressive personal record time of 4:30.06 in the 1,500-meter run. She is also the first Kenyan runner to be part of the women's program.
“(Irene) has the talent to be a major contributor to our team in the near future,” head coach Rene Sepulveda said.
Holst, a native of Uppsala, Sweden, has the potential to help carry OSU's success into the future. In May, she was crowned national champion at the Swedish Junior Cross Country Championships in the 4K and has personal track records of 4:36.08 for the 1500m and 6:53.23 for the 2000m Steeplechase. Holst graduated from Cathedralis Wexionensis High School.
“(Hanna) will focus on the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while she continues to improve her strength and base for the longer cross country races this year,” Sepulveda said.
Hjalmarsen, a native of Bodoe, Norway, brings with her an impressive list of achievements while she competed at Wang High School. During the 2005 outdoor season, she was victorious in the 3k (9:56.40), 5k (17:12.72) and half-marathon (1:20) at the Norwegian Junior National Championships. She placed seventh in the 2,000-meter Norwegian Senior Cross Country Championships with a time of 6:42.
“(Tone) will be a great fit in our long distance running group,” Sepulveda said. “In track, she plans on concentrating in the 10k and 5k events.”
Schroeder, who was one the top prep-prospects in the state of Wisconsin, is a talented runner who placed second at the 2005 Division I State Cross Country Championships. She also recorded a personal best mark of 10:55 in the 3,200-meter run.
Also joining the class are freshman newcomers Emily Hawley (Dewey, Okla.), Amanda McArthur (Wilson, Okla.), Tara Schooley (Edmond, Okla.), Breanna Tharp (Stillwater, Okla.) and Laura Hawkey (Edmond, Okla.).
OSU's top returnees include seniors Eva Slavikova, Mary Davies, juniors Eva Tomankova, Maria Trejo, Kim Blomkvist, and sophomores Nina Andersson, Brittany Mason (Hill) and Anissa Angelosante.
Sepulveda believes that the combination of the returnees and the newcomers could make the Cowgirl's success continue in the near future.
