Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Cross Country Set to Begin Season
September 03, 2010 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Sept. 3, 2010
The Basics
The Oklahoma State men's and women's cross country teams begin their 2010 campaigns Saturday, traveling to Tulsa, Okla., for the Hurricane Invitational at Mohawk Park.
The Cowboys are the defending NCAA Champions and begin the season ranked No. 2 in the 2010 preseason rankings.
The Cowgirls kickoff their year anchored by senior Mihaela Susa. The returning All-Big 12 standout is expected to lead the team throughout the season.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. with the men competing in a four-mile race. The women will follow at 8:35 a.m., running a two-mile course.
OSU Lineups
Oklahoma State will leave many of last year's top athletes in Stillwater, as Saturday's races provide an opportunity for several athletes to gain valuable experience.
Senior Sean Fleming, sophomore Ryan Prentice and freshmen Tom Farrell, Joseph Manilafasha and Taylor Monaghan will run for the men's team.
On the women's side, senior Teran Mixon; juniors Brandi Andrews and Laura Heaton; sophomores Jacqueline Campos, Melanie Funke, Victoria Hanna and Kate Kujawa; and freshman Jori Davis will compete.
2009 in Review
The 2009 season was perhaps the best season in the history of Oklahoma State cross country for the men's team. The Cowboys captured their second Big 12 Championship in two years, and added their second NCAA Championship, their first since 1954. Senior Ryan Vail won the individual Big 12 championship and was joined in the top four by three of his teammates. OSU went on to win its fifth NCAA Regional Championship before winning the NCAA Championships.
The Cowgirls were led all season by star runner Mihaela Susa who narrowly missed out on notching her third straight All-Big 12 honor. Susa showed up strong at regionals to win her third straight All-Region honor and an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships.
OSU in the Polls
The 2010 preseason USTFCCCA rankings list the Oklahoma State men's cross country team at the No. 2 spot. With the Cowboys returning top-level talent, OSU will once again be one of the top-ranked teams.
The Cowboys spent the entire 2009 season near the top of the polls.
