OSU Track Qualifies 17 Athletes for NCAA West Regional

May 17, 2012 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

May 17, 2012

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State track and field program had 17 athletes qualify to compete at the NCAA West Regional, which will be hosted by Texas in Austin on May 24-26.

The Cowboys will have 12 representatives at the meet, while the Cowgirls will have five.

Among those representing OSU, Girma Mecheso will be the only athlete competing in two events, as he is slated to run the 5,000-meter race and 10,000-meter race. He currently ranks seventh in the NCAA in the 10,000 meters and 10th nationally in the 5,000 meters.

Shadrack Kipchirchir will run with Mecheso in the 10,000 meters, while Kirubel Erassa and Neal Smith will join Mecheso in the 5,000-meter race.

Freshman Nick Miller will compete in the hammer throw. He is coming off of a Big 12 title in the event and ranks No. 10 in the NCAA. Andrew Hudson is set to compete in the discus throw.

Another freshman, Fabian Clarkson, will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. He currently owns the No. 20 time nationally after placing second at the Big 12 Championships last weekend. Taylor Monaghan, who placed fifth at the Big 12 Championships, will join him, along with Nick Thorp.

German Fernandez, Raul Botezan and Shane Moskowitz will compete in the 1,500 meters. All three placed in the top eight at the Big 12 Championships.

For the women, Natalja Piliusina, who is fresh off of a Big 12 title in the 800 meters over the weekend, will run the 1,500 meters. She owns the top time in the NCAA for the 1,500 meters and the No. 12 time in the world. Caileigh Glenn will also run the 1,500 meters.

Toni Young is set to compete in the high jump after notching a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championships. She is in a tie for fourth in the national rankings.

Kate Kujawa will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase after placing second at the Big 12 Championships.

Caitlin Way in the hammer throw will round out the Cowgirls participants. She is coming off of a sixth-place finish at the conference meet.

OSU Qualifiers (Men)
Raul Botezan – 1,500 meters
German Fernandez – 1,500 meters
Shane Moskowitz – 1,500 meters
Fabian Clarkson – 3,000 meter steeplechase
Taylor Monaghan – 3,000 meter steeplechase
Nick Thorp – 3,000 meter steeplechase
Kirubel Erassa – 5,000 meters
Neal Smith – 5,000 meters
Girma Mecheso – 5,000 meters/10,000 meters
Shadrack Kipchirchir – 10,000 meters
Andrew Hudson – Discus throw
Nick Miller – Hammer throw

OSU Qualifiers (Women)
Caileigh Glenn – 1,500 meters
Natalja Piliusina – 1,500 meters
Kate Kujawa – 3,000 meter steeplechase
Toni Young – High jump
Caitlin Way – Hammer Throw