Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Cross Country Set for NCAA Pre-Nationals
October 16, 2008 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
The Basics
The Oklahoma State men's and women's cross country teams are back in action Saturday when they compete at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State University.
The men's team is running to acclimate its young runners to the course and prepare for the national meet, while the women's team will send its top seven.
“We feel that they are really ready to compete and the older guys don't need too many more races to be in top form so we will rest our veteran guys,” men's coach Dave Smith said. “Our main goal in this meet is to give the young guys and newcomers a chance to preview the national championship course and to experience a race with incredible intensity and competition.”
The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the Women's 6,000-meter Blue Race and conclude with the Men's 6,000 Meter Open Race at 2:05 p.m.
The university women will compete on a 6,000-meter course, while the university men will run 8,000 meters.
OSU Lineups
Several Cowboys are competing for the men's team, including senior Brian Gosnell, juniors Ryan Birkholz and John Kosgei, sophomores Sean Fleming, Clay Mayes and Peter Wood and freshmen German Fernandez, Ryan Little, Colby Lowe, Josh Mathis, Brad McNiff and John Stublaski.
On the women's side, juniors Tone Hjalmarsen, Natalia Kovtun and Leah Schroeder, sophomore Mihaela Susa, and freshmen Victoria Fratczak, Kristen Gillespie and Brittani Johnson are scheduled to run.
Last Time Out
The Cowboys ran to a first-place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater in their last meet.
Freshman German Fernandez, senior Ryan Vail and junior David Chirchir led the way for the Cowboys, finishing the 8,000-meter course together at about the 24:12 mark for third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.
The Cowgirls also ran in the Jamboree, finishing second to Northern Arizona.
Junior Natalia Kovtun highlighted the day for Oklahoma State, finishing the 6,000-meter course in 10th place with a time of 21:37.
OSU in the Polls
In the Week 3 Cross Country poll, the Oklahoma State men's team received a No. 1 ranking in the Midwest region, while the women's team was voted fourth.
The Cowboys retained their spot as one of the best teams in the country, staying at the No. 2 ranking in the national poll, but gained a first -place vote, their first of the year. Oklahoma State trails only defending national champion Oregon.
The Oklahoma State men's and women's cross country teams are back in action Saturday when they compete at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State University.
The men's team is running to acclimate its young runners to the course and prepare for the national meet, while the women's team will send its top seven.
“We feel that they are really ready to compete and the older guys don't need too many more races to be in top form so we will rest our veteran guys,” men's coach Dave Smith said. “Our main goal in this meet is to give the young guys and newcomers a chance to preview the national championship course and to experience a race with incredible intensity and competition.”
The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the Women's 6,000-meter Blue Race and conclude with the Men's 6,000 Meter Open Race at 2:05 p.m.
The university women will compete on a 6,000-meter course, while the university men will run 8,000 meters.
OSU Lineups
Several Cowboys are competing for the men's team, including senior Brian Gosnell, juniors Ryan Birkholz and John Kosgei, sophomores Sean Fleming, Clay Mayes and Peter Wood and freshmen German Fernandez, Ryan Little, Colby Lowe, Josh Mathis, Brad McNiff and John Stublaski.
On the women's side, juniors Tone Hjalmarsen, Natalia Kovtun and Leah Schroeder, sophomore Mihaela Susa, and freshmen Victoria Fratczak, Kristen Gillespie and Brittani Johnson are scheduled to run.
Last Time Out
The Cowboys ran to a first-place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater in their last meet.
Freshman German Fernandez, senior Ryan Vail and junior David Chirchir led the way for the Cowboys, finishing the 8,000-meter course together at about the 24:12 mark for third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.
The Cowgirls also ran in the Jamboree, finishing second to Northern Arizona.
Junior Natalia Kovtun highlighted the day for Oklahoma State, finishing the 6,000-meter course in 10th place with a time of 21:37.
OSU in the Polls
In the Week 3 Cross Country poll, the Oklahoma State men's team received a No. 1 ranking in the Midwest region, while the women's team was voted fourth.
The Cowboys retained their spot as one of the best teams in the country, staying at the No. 2 ranking in the national poll, but gained a first -place vote, their first of the year. Oklahoma State trails only defending national champion Oregon.
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