Vail Earns All-America Honor With Fifth Place Finish

June 14, 2008 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

DES MOINES, Iowa Â– Oklahoma State senior Ryan Vail finished fifth in the 5,000 meter run at the 2008 NCAA Championship at Drake Stadium Friday to earn his first career track and field All-American honor. Vail ran a 13:42.85 in the event final to become Oklahoma State's first track and field All-American since Chuck Sloan earned the honor in the steeplechase in 1998. Vail was a 2008 cross country All-American earlier this year in leading the Cowboys to a third place finish at the NCAA Championship.

Vail's time of 13:42.85 was his second-best time of the season; his best was 13:41.61 at the Stanford Invitational. The 5th-place finish gave the Cowboys four team points, putting them in a tie for 40th place at the end of the day.

Vail has qualified for the “B” standard of the U.S. Olympic Trials in the event, where he hopes to compete at the end of June.

NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

5,000 meters (final round)

5 Vail, Ryan 13:42.85