Oklahoma State University Athletics
Rene Sepulveda
February 27, 2009 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Head coach Rene Sepulveda is in his sixth year at Oklahoma State, where he has guided the Cowgirl cross country program into the upper third of the Big 12 in three of the last four years. Under Sepulveda, Oklahoma State enjoyed its best three-year span since joining the Big 12 as the Cowgirls finished third at the conference meet in 2004, second at the conference meet in 2005 and fourth at the conference meet in 2006.
In addition to success on the Big 12 level, Sepulveda led the Cowgirls to the 2005 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, marking Oklahoma State's second regional championship since 2001. For his efforts, Sepulveda was honored as the 2005 NCAA Midwest Regional Coach of the Year.
In five years at the helm of the cross country program, Sepulveda has coached eight All-Big 12 and eight all-region runners, which include 2008 all-Big 12 and all-region honoree Mihaela Susa.
During Sepulveda's tenure at OSU, he has coached five individual Big 12 champions in track who include Valentina Medina (2004) in the 1,500-meter run, Barbora Kuncova (2005) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Mary Davies (2006) in the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He also developed Davies into an NCAA Outdoor All-American in the 10,000-meter run in the previous two seasons. Sepulveda coached two NCAA finalists during the 2004 outdoor season and added two more finalists the following year.
In addition to success on the course, Sepulveda's Cowgirls are also shining in the classroom, evidenced by the fact that Oklahoma State was honored as a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team for the fifth consecutive year in 2007. A total of nine Cowgirls were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team in 2007 to set a new school record.
Sepulveda spent 11 seasons helping to build the Southern Methodist University program into a national contender before taking the head coaching position at Oklahoma State in the fall of 2003.
Sepulveda has a history of team and individual success. En route to winning the 2000 and 2002 Western Athletic Conference coach of the year award, Sepulveda led the Southern Methodist men's cross country team to a No. 20 national ranking in 2002. Sepulveda also coached and recruited numerous All- American athletes to SMU including Mindi Pukstas, Roman Oravec, Dalibor Balgac, and Clyde Colenso.
Roman Oravec, a 1997 recruit of Sepulveda, was selected as an All-American seven times and competed in the 2000 Olympics. Dalibor Balgac, a three-time All-American, anchored SMU's distance medley relay team to a fourth-place finish at the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships. Clyde Colenso was the 1999 1,500 meter NCAA Outdoor National Champion under Sepulveda.
Sepulveda also coached Katie Swords, who some consider the best women's distance runner in Mustang history. Swords was a two-time NCAA champion in the 10,000 meters and runner-up in the 5,000 meters (1994, 95). Swords scored 40 points for SMU at the 1996 SWC meet, winning the 1,500 meters, the 3,000 meters, the 5,000 meters and the10,000 meter races.
Sepulveda coached the 1995 men's and women's cross country teams to a Southwest Conference championship and led the Mustangs to a 21st-place and an 18th-place finish at the 1995 NCAA Cross Country Championships, respectively.
Before coaching at SMU, Sepulveda began his career at the University of Oklahoma in 1988 where he served as the women's cross country coach for four years. Under Sepulveda, Monique Ecker was the 1992 NCAA outdoor 5,000 meter champion.
Sepulveda graduated from Idaho State University in 1988. He was a four-year letterwinner in track and cross country. He was 1987 NCAA qualifier and earned Big Sky all-conference accolades in the 5,000-meter run, 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 4x800-meter relay team and the distance medley relay from 1985-87. Sepulveda qualified for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic trials with an “A” standard in the marathon. He earned a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Health Promotions Sciences at Oklahoma.
In addition to success on the Big 12 level, Sepulveda led the Cowgirls to the 2005 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, marking Oklahoma State's second regional championship since 2001. For his efforts, Sepulveda was honored as the 2005 NCAA Midwest Regional Coach of the Year.
In five years at the helm of the cross country program, Sepulveda has coached eight All-Big 12 and eight all-region runners, which include 2008 all-Big 12 and all-region honoree Mihaela Susa.
During Sepulveda's tenure at OSU, he has coached five individual Big 12 champions in track who include Valentina Medina (2004) in the 1,500-meter run, Barbora Kuncova (2005) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Mary Davies (2006) in the 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He also developed Davies into an NCAA Outdoor All-American in the 10,000-meter run in the previous two seasons. Sepulveda coached two NCAA finalists during the 2004 outdoor season and added two more finalists the following year.
In addition to success on the course, Sepulveda's Cowgirls are also shining in the classroom, evidenced by the fact that Oklahoma State was honored as a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team for the fifth consecutive year in 2007. A total of nine Cowgirls were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team in 2007 to set a new school record.
Sepulveda spent 11 seasons helping to build the Southern Methodist University program into a national contender before taking the head coaching position at Oklahoma State in the fall of 2003.
Sepulveda has a history of team and individual success. En route to winning the 2000 and 2002 Western Athletic Conference coach of the year award, Sepulveda led the Southern Methodist men's cross country team to a No. 20 national ranking in 2002. Sepulveda also coached and recruited numerous All- American athletes to SMU including Mindi Pukstas, Roman Oravec, Dalibor Balgac, and Clyde Colenso.
Roman Oravec, a 1997 recruit of Sepulveda, was selected as an All-American seven times and competed in the 2000 Olympics. Dalibor Balgac, a three-time All-American, anchored SMU's distance medley relay team to a fourth-place finish at the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships. Clyde Colenso was the 1999 1,500 meter NCAA Outdoor National Champion under Sepulveda.
Sepulveda also coached Katie Swords, who some consider the best women's distance runner in Mustang history. Swords was a two-time NCAA champion in the 10,000 meters and runner-up in the 5,000 meters (1994, 95). Swords scored 40 points for SMU at the 1996 SWC meet, winning the 1,500 meters, the 3,000 meters, the 5,000 meters and the10,000 meter races.
Sepulveda coached the 1995 men's and women's cross country teams to a Southwest Conference championship and led the Mustangs to a 21st-place and an 18th-place finish at the 1995 NCAA Cross Country Championships, respectively.
Before coaching at SMU, Sepulveda began his career at the University of Oklahoma in 1988 where he served as the women's cross country coach for four years. Under Sepulveda, Monique Ecker was the 1992 NCAA outdoor 5,000 meter champion.
Sepulveda graduated from Idaho State University in 1988. He was a four-year letterwinner in track and cross country. He was 1987 NCAA qualifier and earned Big Sky all-conference accolades in the 5,000-meter run, 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 4x800-meter relay team and the distance medley relay from 1985-87. Sepulveda qualified for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic trials with an “A” standard in the marathon. He earned a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Health Promotions Sciences at Oklahoma.
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