Oklahoma State University Athletics
Lynch Qualifies for National Team
February 13, 2010 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Feb. 13, 2010
Spokane, Wash. -- Oklahoma State freshman Michael Lynch qualified for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships via his fifth-place finish at the USATF Cross Country National Championships on Saturday.
Lynch posted a time of 24:24 in the 8,000-meter race and will compete for the United States team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland on March 28.
“I'm really proud of him,” Cowboy coach Dave Smith said. “He came in somewhat unheralded and has worked his tail off to get to this spot. This has been his goal since he got into Stillwater.”
Freshmen Cowboys Taylor Monaghan and Matthew Perez also suited up at the national championships on Saturday. Monaghan notched a ninth-place finish with a time of 24:52, while Perez crossed the line in 28th with a time of 26:09.
Lynch will be the second-straight Cowboy to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Sophomore German Fernandez, the 2008 and 2009 USATF Cross County National Champion, was the first American to cross the line at the world championships a year ago.
“I'm happy for him and I'm happy the team will be represented on the junior national team again,” Smith said.
In the open race, three-time All-American Ryan Vail's time of 35:25 was good for sixth place in the 12,000 meters. His finish notched him a second-straight trip to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Former Cowboy David Janikowski crossed the line 13th in the open race with a time of 36:06.
USATF Cross Country National Championships
Junior 8,000 Meters
5 Michael Lynch 24:24*
9 Taylor Monaghan 24:52
28 Matthew Perez 26:09
Open 12,000 Meters
6 Ryan Vail 35:25*
13 David Janikowski 36:06
* Qualified for IAAF Cross Country World Championships
