Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy X-Country Nabs No. 2 Ranking
September 15, 2009 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Sept. 15, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason rankings have nabbed Oklahoma State's men's cross country team as the No. 2 team in the country, it was announced today.
A day after claiming the No. 1 spot in the Midwest Region, the Cowboys come in at No. 2 nationally behind defending national champion Oregon. The Ducks received nine first-place votes and garnered 20 more points than OSU despite losing two All-Americans, including individual NCAA champion Galen Rupp.
The Cowboys have returned seven of their runners that claimed a Big 12 Championship, an NCAA Regional Championship and posted an eighth-place showing at the NCAA Championships a year ago.
Among those seven are returning Big 12 individual champion German Fernandez and All-Americans Ryan Vail and John Kosgei. Adding to OSU's depth will be Girma Mecheso, a sophomore who transferred from Auburn where he was an All-American as a freshman.
OSU will get its season officially underway when it hosts the Cowboy Jamboree on Oct. 3. The 2009 version of the Cowboy Jamboree will be the 73rd in its storied history.
Preseason USTFCCCA Cross Country Rankings
1. Oregon
2. Oklahoma State
3. Stanford
4. Wisconsin
5. Northern Arizona
6. Colorado
7. Iona
8. Portland
9. Georgetown
10. Alabama
11. Tulsa
12. BYU
13. Auburn
14. Virginia
15. William & Mary
16. Providence
17. Minnesota
18. Arkansas
19. NC State
20. Butler
21. Cal Poly
22. Michigan
23. Florida State
24. Washington
25. Iowa State
