Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Track Travels to NCAA West Preliminary Rounds
May 22, 2012 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
May 22, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State track and field program is sending 17 athletes to compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds on May 24-26, which will be hosted by the University of Texas in Austin.
On the men's side, OSU will have 12 athletes competing in six events, while the women will have five athletes competing in four events.
The Competitors
Athlete Event Schedule
Raul Botezan 1,500 meters 5/24 - 5:30 p.m.
German Fernandez 1,500 meters 5/24 - 5:30 p.m.
Shane Moskowitz 1,500 meters 5/24 - 5:30 p.m.
Caileigh Glenn 1,500 meters 5/24 - 6 p.m.
Natalja Piliusina 1,500 meters 5/24 - 6 p.m.
Shadrack Kipchirchir 10,000 meters 5/24 - 9 p.m.
Girma Mecheso 10,000 meters 5/24 - 9 p.m.
Nick Miller Hammer throw 5/25 - 2 p.m.
Toni Young High jump 5/25 - 5 p.m.
Fabian Clarkson 3,000 meter SC 5/25 - 8:50 p.m.
Taylor Monaghan 3,000 meter SC 5/25 - 8:50 p.m.
Nick Thorp 3,000 meter SC 5/25 - 8:50 p.m.
Kate Kujawa 3,000 meter SC 5/25 - 9:30 p.m.
Andrew Hudson Discus throw 5/26 - 11 a.m.
Caitlin Way Hammer throw 5/26 - 2 p.m.
Kirubel Erassa 5,000 meters 5/26 - 8:05 p.m.
Neal Smith 5,000 meters 5/26 - 8:05 p.m.
Girma Mecheso 5,000 meters 5/26 - 8:05 p.m.
Chasing the Olympic Dream
Cowboy Tom Farrell ran a blistering 13:15.31 in the 5,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational on April 29, earning him an Olympic "A" Standard, which gives him a strong chance to represent his native Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games. Cowgirl Natalja Piliusina ran a 4:09.51 in the 1,500 meters at the Payton Jordan, which is just .61 seconds off of the Olympic "B" standard. If she is able to shave off the fractions of a second, she would be able to represent her home country of Lithuania in the upcoming Olympics. After posting a jump of six feet, one and 1/4 inches at the Big 12 Championships, Toni Young is just a quarter of an inch away from being automatically qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials at the end of June.
OSU in the Polls
Heading into the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds, the men rank No. 32 and the women are No. 36. After an incredible showing by OSU at the Payton Jordan Invitational on April 29, both the men's and women's teams made jumps in the national rankings. The Cowgirls jumped an astounding 32 spots to No. 34, while the men jumped ahead six spots to No. 36.
Among the Nation's Elite
OSU track and field athletes own five marks that rank inside the top 10 in the NCAA:
No. 1 Women's 1,500 Meters - Natalja Piliusina - 4:09.51 - Payton Jordan Inv.
No. 4 Women's High Jump - Toni Young - 1.86m/6-01.25 - Big 12 Championships
No. 7 Men's 10,000 Meters - Girma Mecheso - 28:16.97 - Payton Jordan Inv.
No. 7 Men's Hammer Throw - Nick Miller - 67.06m/220-00 - John McDonnell Inv.
No. 10 Men's 5,000 Meters - Girma Mecheso - 13.34.83 - Stanford Inv.
From Hoops to High Jump
Oklahoma State women's basketball star Toni Young, who has career averages of 11.3 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game and is in the top 10 in six career statistical categories, has joined the track team as a high jumper. In just her second outing with team, Young set the school record, but has since broken it when she jumped 6-01.25 at the Big 12 Championships, where she placed second. That mark is currently tied for fourth in the NCAA.
Freshman Phenom
Freshman thrower Nick Miller has had an incredible run so far in his first season on campus. The Carlisle, United Kingdom, is coming off of an individual Big 12 title in the hammer throw. With the victory, Miller has now placed first in each of the past five meets he has competed in. He also had a string where he increased the distance of his throw four straight times, including setting the school record at 220 feet at the John McDonnell Invitational on April 20. That mark crurrently ranks No. 7 in the NCAA and ranks fourth in the world for junior (under 20) athletes.
Rewriting the Record Books
The 2012 outdoor track and field season has resulted in some of the best marks in Oklahoma State history. In just this season, the Cowboys and Cowgirls have claimed a total of 21 spots on the all-time top-10 performance lists, including five school records:
Outdoor School Records Set in 2012:
Men's 5,000 Meters - Tom Farrell - 13:15.31 - Payton Jordan Inv.
(Old Record: German Fernandez - 13:25.46 - 2009 USATF, Eugene)
Men's 10,000 Meters - Girma Mecheso - 28:16 97 - Payton Jordan Inv.
(Old Record: Colby Lowe - 28:45.91 - 2011 Stanford Invitational)
Men's Hammer Throw - Nick Miller - 67.06m/220-00 - John McDonnell Inv.
(Old Record: Ralph Havenstrite - 47.52m/155-11 - 1915 Interclass Track Meet)
Women's 1,500 Meters - Natalja Piliusina - 4:09.51 - Payton Jordan Inv.
(Old Record: Mihaela Susa - 4:13.08 - 2010 Mt. SAC Relays)
Women's High Jump - Toni Young - 1.86m, 6-01.25 - Big 12 Championships
(Old Record: Michelle Crowson - 1.81m, 5-11.25 - 1987 Ralph Higgins Meet)
From Coach Dave Smith
"I'd like to see as many people as possible qualify for the national championships. I think we have several in the group that are within striking distance of making it, some are favorites to make it and some are on the outside. We always seem to do better at the end of the year and we perform well in big meets. Outside of making the national championships, I'd like everybody who's going in to finish higher than they're ranked going in. I want to see everybody improve on their rankings coming in and hopefully have several in the national championships."
