Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Tops Preseason Regional Cross Country Rankings
September 16, 2008 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER, Okla. – As expected, the Oklahoma State men's cross country team finds itself ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region in the preseason rankings released today by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Oklahoma State women's team is ranked sixth.
With returning All-Americans Ryan Vail and David Chirchir in the lineup to go with standout LSU transfer John Kosgei and the nation's top recruit in German Fernandez, coach Dave Smith has assembled what could very well be an NCAA championship team in Stillwater. The Cowboys placed third at the NCAA Championship last year and should be even better this year.
The Cowboys have dominated the NCAA Midwest Region lately, winning the team title each of the last three years and emerging victorious four times in the last five years. Looking up at the Cowboys in this year's preseason rankings are No. 2 Minnesota, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Tulsa and No. 5 Missouri, among others.
Coach Rene Sepulveda's women's team begins the season ranked sixth in the Midwest Region, with Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa and Tulsa comprising the top five. The Cowgirls are solid at the top of the lineup with sophomore all-Big 12 and all-region performer Mihaela Susa and steady junior Tone Hjalmarsen leading the way. The remainder of OSU's production will have to come from a group of newcomers, with USC transfer Natalia Kovtun and freshmen Brittani Johnson and Victoria Fratczak likely to be regular contributors.
The women's team is in action this Saturday when the A team competes at the Iowa State Invitational and the B team competes at the Missouri State Invitational. The next men's competition is the Cowboy Jamboree on Oct. 4.
Preseason USTFCCCA Cross Country Rankings
Midwest Region – Men
1. Oklahoma State
2. Minnesota
3. Iowa State
4. Tulsa
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma
7. Iowa
8. Southern Illinois
9. Illinois
10. Illinois State
Midwest Region-Women
1. Minnesota
2. Illinois
3. Nebraska
4. Iowa
5. Tulsa
6. Oklahoma State
7. Kansas State
8. Iowa State
9. Missouri
10. Missouri State
