Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
NCAA Championships
Cross Country Places Second at NCAA Championships
November 21, 2011 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Nov. 21, 2011
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Oklahoma State men's cross country team fell just short in its bid to win a third-straight national title, coming in second behind top-ranked Wisconsin.
The Cowboys posted 139 team points, behind Wisconsin's 97 team points. It is the seventh-straight season – all with Dave Smith as head coach – the Cowboys have finished in the top 10 at the national meet.
“It's disappointing,” Smith said. “Our goal the whole year was to win the national championship and that's what we were focused on. Like I've been saying all year, we really felt like Wisconsin was the best team and had run the best all year and knew it was going to take, not a miracle, but it was going to take a big effort, a major surprise from our four and five guys to beat them.
The Cowboys were paced by seniors Colby Lowe and German Fernandez, as Lowe finished 10th and Fernandez finished 11th. Lowe crossed the finish line of the 10,000-meter race at 29:31.4, while Fernandez posted a time of 29:32.9. It is the third-straight season Lowe has finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Tom Farrell came in 31st place, running a 29:58.6. Lowe, Fernandez and Farrell earned All-America status with their performances. Lowe has earned All-America recognition each of the past three seasons, while Fernandez and Farrell each earned All-America honors the past two years.
“Those guys are going to have big careers,” Smith said. “German and Colby are going to go on and run professionally and do big things, hopefully, and make U.S. teams and Olympic teams and all that kind of stuff. It may be sad because they're closing a chapter and not the way they hoped they would go out, but still, for those guys it's just closing a chapter and starting a new one.”
Sophomore Shadrack Kipchirchir placed 50th after completing the race in 30:22.4, while senior Johnathan Stublaski finished in 30:41.3 to finish 85th and round out OSU's scoring five.
The women's team posted a 30th-place team finish with 701 points. For the fifth consecutive race, the Cowgirls were led by sophomore Natalja Piliusina, who finished 83rd, as she completed the 6,000-meter race in 20:53.3.
Following Piliusina was freshman Monika Juodeskaite at 184th place with a time of 21:43.5, senior Victoria Fratczak at 193rd place with a 21:47.9, senior Teran Mixon at 201st place with a time of 21:52.4 and junior Jackie Campos rounded out the Cowgirls' scoring five with a 21:55.2 to finish 205th.
Smith said the performance at the national meet is a step forward for the women's team.
“Building a great program is a process, it takes time, and you have to go through certain steps and certain ups and downs, and this is part of that process, having a bit of a down year,” Smith said. “Like I told the girls, the worst day at nationals is better than the best day at home.”
Men's Team Results (Top 5)
1. Wisconsin – 97 points
2. Oklahoma State – 139 points
3. Colorado – 144 points
4. BYU – 203 points
5. Stanford – 207 points
OSU Men's Results
10. Colby Lowe – 29:31.4
11. German Fernandez – 29:32.9
31. Tom Farrell – 29:58.6
50. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 30:22.4
85. Johnathan Stublaski – 30:41.3
96. Joseph Manilafasha – 30:46.6
233. Fabian Clarkson – 32:18.0
Women's Team Results (Top 5)
1. Georgetown – 162 points
2. Washington – 170 points
3. Villanova – 181 points
4. Florida State – 189 points
5. Oregon – 281 points.
30. Oklahoma State – 701 points
OSU Women's Results
83. Natalja Piliusina – 20:53.3
184. Monika Juodeskaite – 21:43.5
193. Victoria Fratczak – 21:47.9
201. Teran Mixon – 21:52.4
205. Jackie Campos – 21:55.2
231. Kate Kujawa – 22:16.0
241. Caileigh Glenn – 22:34.9
Players Mentioned
