Oklahoma State University Athletics
Vail Selected as U.S. Team Captain
March 26, 2010 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
March 26, 2010
BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Oklahoma State's Ryan Vail has been selected as the United States senior team captain for Sunday's IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Vail, an outgoing senior and three-time cross country All-American while at OSU, is competing at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships for the third time. He finished 77th in the junior race in 2005 and was 33rd in the senior race last year when he was the first American to cross the line in Amman, Jordan.
"I was selected by the guys based on my past experiences at world cross," Vail said. "This is my third team, and most of the guys on the senior team haven't competed at the world championships."
Vail was an integral part of Oklahoma State's cross country national championship on Nov. 23, 2009. He was the first Cowboy to cross the line, finishing in seventh place.
The Gresham, Ore., native was also named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's All-Academic team for cross country four times in his Cowboy career.
"To be selected as the team captain of the United States team is a testament of his leadership ability," Cowboy coach Dave Smith said. "To get voted by your teammates shows a lot about his character. We knew that during his time at Oklahoma State and his team is recognizing it now."
