OSU Track Takes Three Titles in Fayetteville

April 23, 2011 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

April 23, 2011

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oklahoma State track and field program finished another busy weekend Saturday as three athletes finished first in their respective events at the John McDonnell Invitational.

Freshman Natalja Piliusina picked up the first individual title in the women's 800 meters at 2:05.84, finishing with the fastest Cowgirl time in the event since school record holder Justine Craig finished in 2:04.61 at the 1987 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Teammate Brandi Andrews was not far behind as she clocked the seventh-best time on the all-time performance list at 2:10.32.

The men's squad accounted for the other first-place finishers as Tom Farrell won the 1.500 meters and Kevin Colon won the 5,000 meters.

Farrell's time of 3:42.23 improved his personal best by more than half a second and moved him up one place to sixth on the all-time list.

Colon, a freshman from Kansas City, Mo., crossed the line at 14:34.04 and was the first of five Cowboys to finish in the top six of the event as Jacob Benn, David Osborn, Joseph Manilafasha and Ryan Prentice finished second, fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Oklahoma State, who endured several delays due to rain and wind in Arkansas, also competed at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan., this week as seven athletes competed in seven different events.

The OSU track and field program returns to action May 1 for the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.

John McDonnell Invitational

April 22

Women's Hammer Throw

5 Alyssa Henrichs - 41.89m

6 Jessica Lewis - 39.98m

April 23

Women's 800 Meters

1 Natalja Piliusina - 2:05.84

7 Brandi Andrews - 2:10.32

13 Mihaela Bobos - 2:16.71

18 Caileigh Glenn - 2:19.80