Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Opens Indoor Slate In Manhattan
December 12, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Dec. 12, 2013
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State track and field will travel to Manhattan, Kan., this weekend, for the KSU Winter Invitational, on Dec. 14.
How to Follow the Meets
Online, fans can follow the action live on Twitter by following @run4okstate for updates. Final results will be published on www.okstate.com
Meet Schedule
The pentathlon will take place on Friday, Dec. 13, at 10:45. On Saturday, field events will begin at 11 a.m., and the running events will start at 2 p.m.
Quoting Coach Dave Smith
On transitioning from cross country to indoor track:
“Our track athletes, specifically the athletes who don't do cross country, are ready to go. They have been practicing and are ready to see where they are heading into the season. This will be a good early test.”
On what he expects from the season's first meet:
“I'm ready to see how the athletes have progressed from a competitive standpoint. It's one thing to progress in practice, but it's another to see how they react when the lights come on. I'm excited to see that, especially with those getting their first taste of NCAA competition.”
On the importance of starting the season on a good note:
“I'm not sure how much importance I place on that. It's nice to start well, especially when it comes to confidence, but I would much rather have us performing at the highest level at the end of the season. I want us to get better as each meet passes.”
Last Time Out
Nick Miller and Kirubel Erassa both had career days to highlight a historical string of All-American performances for the Oklahoma State men's and women's track and field teams in day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
For the championships, the OSU men had a combined seven first-team All-Americans in four different events, which is the most in school history in both categories. As a team, the men finished in eighth, with 20 points. That finish is the Cowboys' highest team finish since 1984, and the third top-10 indoor finish in school history.
In the men's weight throw, Miller entered as the No. 15 seed, but launched back-to-back personal bests in the prelims, with the second one going 21.48m/70-05.75. That was enough for fourth place, first-team All-American status and five huge team points.
In the men's 3,000 meters, Kirubel Erassa made an incredible late charge to finish third in a personal-best 7:49.17, securing six more team points. Tom Farrell took second-team All-American honors with a 14th place finish.
In the women's 800 meters, Natalja Piliusina added another indoor All-American performance to her impressive resume, finishing fifth, in 2:04.46.
In The Polls
The OSU men had a historical season in the polls. The Cowboys jumped into the USTFCCCA Top 25 at the end of January and never looked back. On Feb. 11, they vaulted to No. 3, the highest ranking in school history. From that point forward, OSU stayed in the top 11 the rest of the season.
On the women's side, OSU cracked the top 25 for the first time in the history of the USTFCCA Poll, grabbing the No. 22 ranking on Feb. 19.
Last Year at the KSU Winter Invite
The Oklahoma State men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2012-13 indoor season today at the Kansas State All Comers meet in Manhattan, Kan.
Leading the way was Nick Miller, who set a personal best with his throw of 19.41m/63-08.25 in the men's weight throw. He was one of seven Oklahoma State athletes to establish a new personal best at the meet.
In the mile, Justin Vilhauer finished in first place with a time of 4:13.60, while Kevin Colón finished in third place, setting a personal record at 4:20.06.
Other Cowboy personal bests at the meet included Cody Kenny in the 60-meter dash (7.16) and Tyler Payton in the 600-yard run (1:11.95).
The Cowgirls also had an impressive day, including a good showing by freshmen Kaela Edwards and Chase Ealey.
Edwards finished in third place in the 600-yard run, clocking in at 1:24.54 and Ealey placed first and set a personal best in the shot put with her throw of 15.78m/51-09.25.
