Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Sends Two More To NCAAs
May 29, 2010 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
May 29, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas - Oklahoma State triple jumper Clarissa Andrews and runner Mihaela Susa both earned berths to the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a result of their performances at the NCAA West preliminary round at the Mike A. Myers Stadium Saturday. Andrews was sixth in the women's triple jump with a school-record leap of 13.06 meters and Susa took fifth in the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:16.60.
Just two weeks ago, Andrews was ranked 40th in the West region in the triple jump, but has exploded during the postseason to climb to seventh in the region. Her performance in Austin eclipsed the existing school record of 13.02 meters set by Baiba Blumbaha at last year's NCAA regional meet. By virtue of her performance Saturday, Andrews is now set to compete at her first career NCAA Championship event.
"This was an awesome showing for Clarissa," OSU coach Dave Smith said. "She jumped a lifetime best at the Big 12 meet, then she had three separate jumps here that were all better than that mark. It's amazing what she and (jumps coach) Zivile Pukstiene have done. This is the second year in a row that Zivile has had a jumper set a personal best at the Big 12 meet, then hit a huge jump a regionals to qualify for nationals. I'm really impressed with how Clarissa has put it together at the end of the season. She is a gamer and does her best at the biggest meets. I can't say enough about her."
The duo joins teammate John Kosgei as Oklahoma State's 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships qualifiers, as Kosgei punched his ticket by winning the men's 10,000 meters Thursday night.
Susa competed at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships but missed the event last year due to injury that kept her out of the NCAA regional qualifier. She was crowned as an indoor All-American earlier this year after placing fifth in the mile.
"Given the conditions, Mihaela was outstanding today," Smith said. "She has regained her mojo after losing it a bit at the Big 12 meet. She looked fantastic tonight and I'm real optimistic about her chances at NCAAs."
A handful of other Oklahoma State performers were also in action Saturday but did not qualify for the NCAA Championships. Natalia Kovtun was 22nd in the women's 1,500 meters with a 4:30.30. Victoria Hanna was 31st in the women's 5,000 meters with a 17:28.02. Johnathan Stublaski was 22nd in the men's 1,500 meters with a 3:50.71 and Colby Lowe was 18th in the men's 5,000 meters in 14:23.87.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships are set for June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Women's Triple Jump (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
6 Clarissa Andrews 13.06m
Women's 1,500 meters (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
5 Mihaela Susa 4:16.60
22 Natalia Kovtun 4:30.30
Women's 5,000 meters (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
31 Victoria Hanna 17:28.02
-- Natalia Kovtun DNS
Men's 1,500 meters (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
22 Johnathan Stublaski 3:50.71
Men's 5,000 meters (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
18 Colby Lowe 14:23.87
