Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Big 12 Championships
OSU Track Wraps Up Big 12 Indoor Championships
February 25, 2012 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Feb. 25, 2012
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Oklahoma State track and field program wrapped up the final day of competition at the Big 12 Indoor Championships at Gilliam Indoor Stadium, hosted by Texas A&M.
The highlight of the afternoon for OSU came from sophomore Natalja Piliusina, who defended her 800 meter title from last year with another conference championship this season. She completed the 800 meters in 2:07.43 after helping lead the distance medley relay team to a Big 12 Championship on Friday.
“Natalja is just an unbelievable athlete,” coach Dave Smith said. “She just goes out and does what she needs to do. She's very talented, works extremely hard and is really coachable and just has a sense of how to race.”
The men placed sixth in the meet with a team score of 52 points, just one point shy of fifth-place Baylor's 53. The sixth-place finish is the highest OSU has placed at the indoor conference meet since 1989 when it placed sixth at the Big 8 Indoor Championship.
“Overall, I think it was a good meet,” Smith said. “I think we did well. We finished sixth, and we were a point out of being fifth. I think overall I'm proud of the guys, they did a good job, but we have to get better. We have to be able to compete better.”
The men were led by junior Tom Farrell and sophomore Kirubel Erassa, who each earned all-Big 12 recognition in the mile and 3,000 meters. Farrell placed second in the mile with a time of 4:06.47 and sixth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:04.14, while Erassa ran a 4:07.35 to place eighth in the mile and came in second in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:02.98.
“I was really happy with Kirubel Erassa today in the 3K,” Smith said. “Kirubel had a great day for a sophomore. To finish second in that field is awesome.”
Junior Raul Botezan also earned all-Big 12 honors for his third-place performance in the 1,000-meter race. His time of 2:24.60 ranks as the third-best 1K time in OSU history.
For the Cowgirls, sophomore Caileigh Glenn placed fourth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:49.50, which stands as the third-fastest 1,000 meter time at OSU. Glenn earned all-Big 12 recognition, along with sophomore Mihaela Bobos and senior Kendra Woodson, who placed sixth and seventh in the 800 meters respectively, as well as Kate Kujawa, who placed eighth in the mile.
Big 12 Indoor Championships
Feb. 11, 2012 | Gilliam Indoor Stadium | Texas A&M University
Women's 800 Meter Run
1. Natalja Piliusina – 2:07.43
6. Mihaela Bobos – 2:12.02
7. Kendra Woodson – 2:16.25
Women's 1,000 Meter Run
4. Caileigh Glenn – 2:49.50
Women's 1 Mile Run
8. Kate Kujawa – 5:00.20
Women's 3,000 Meter Run
10. Jackie Campos – 9:47.47
20. Janelle Martinez – 9:55.18
22. Victoria Hanna – 9:57.21
Women's Shot Put
14. Brooke Gritters – 13.77m, 45-02.25
Men's 1,000 Meter Run
3. Raul Botezan – 2:24.60
Men's 1 Mile Run
2. Tom Farrell – 4:06.47
8. Kirubel Erassa – 4:07.35
Men's 3,000 Meter Run
2. Kirubel Erassa – 8:02.98
6. Tom Farrell – 8:04.14
12. Girma Mecheso – 8:09.68
20. Shane Moskowitz – 8:15.20
30. Neal Smith – 8:24.80
32. Taylor Monaghan – 8:26.77
34. Tommy Casey – 8:28.31
36. Zach Wills – 8:30.48
37. Nick Thorp – 8:31.17
Men's High Jump
-- Giovonni Peters – NH
Women's Team Scores – Final
1. Texas A&M – 140 points
2. Texas – 112 points
3. Kansas – 101.33 points
T4. Baylor – 76 points
T4. Iowa State – 76 points
6. Texas Tech – 63 points
7. Kansas State – 56 points
8. Oklahoma – 55.33 points
9. Oklahoma State – 31 points
10. Missouri – 29.33 points
Men's Team Scores – Final
1. Texas A&M – 154
2. Texas – 133.5 points
3. Oklahoma – 98 points
4. Kansas State – 64 points
5. Baylor – 53 points
6. Oklahoma State – 52 points
7. Texas Tech – 48 points
8. Missouri – 47 points
9. Iowa State – 45 points
10. Kansas – 44.5 points
Players Mentioned
