Oklahoma State University Athletics
Botezan's Olympic Bid Falls Short
June 30, 2012 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
June 30, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's Raul Botezan placed sixth in his heat & 16th overall in the men's 1,500 meter semifinals at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland today. His time of 3:46.39 will not advance him to the event final and will not qualify him to represent his native Romania at the 2012 Olympic Games.
He was one of seven Oklahoma State track and field athletes competing for spots at this year's Olympics.
Botezan's teammates, German Fernandez, Girma Mecheso, Toni Young and Natalja Piliusina all earned the right to compete for spots in London as well, but Fernandez fell short in his bid to represent Team USA in the men's 1,500 meters, Mecheso was unable to secure a Team USA roster spot in the men's 5,000 meters or the 10,000 meters and Young did not advance to the U.S. Olympic Trials finals in the women's high jump. Piliusina ran for an Olympic berth in the women's 800 meter final at the European Championships Friday. She fell short after placing eighth in 2:06.59. She needed to run 2:01.30 or faster to represent her native Lithuania at the Olympics.
Former Cowboy runners Ryan Vail and David Jankowski also earned the right to compete for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team in the men's 10,000 meters, but neither qualified at the trials.
