Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Track Starts With Highest-Ever Outdoor Ranking
March 19, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
March 19, 2013
STILLWATER -
The Oklahoma State men's outdoor track and field team earned the No. 22 preseason ranking in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association top 25, it was announced today.
No. 22 is the highest the Cowboys have ever been ranked in the outdoor USTFCCCA poll, surpassing their No. 24 ranking from week three of 2012.
This ranking comes on the heels of an indoor season in which the Cowboys received their highest-ever indoor USTFCCCA ranking, stayed in the top 15 for the majority of the season and topped it off with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
“I think this is still uncommon ground for this program,” OSU Coach Dave Smith said. “It's still exciting to be ranked like this. We didn't start this high in the indoor season—we started much lower and eventually finished eighth. We have athletes who are ready to continue improving and help move the team up the rankings. It's early in the season, but it's a good place to start.”
Individually, a pair of Cowboys put on season-opening performances that landed them in the national rankings.
Tyler Payton won the 400 meters at the Tulsa Duels with a time of 48.16, which earned him the No. 26 spot in the country.
In the high jump, Taylor Buck cleared 2.00m/6-6.75, which is good enough for No. 47 in the nation.
On the women's side, four Cowgirls are nationally ranked this week.
Taylor Stolt's mark of 6.01m/19-8.75 in the long jump earned her the No. 11 spot.
Chase Ealey's 15.03m/49-3.75 heave has her at No. 19 in the shot put.
Caitlin Way won the hammer throw competition at the Tulsa Duels with a launch of 54.43m/178-7, which is also good enough for No. 25 in the country.
Clara Nichols was another Cowgirl who won her event in Tulsa, claiming the victory in the 800 meters. Her time of 2:13.93 is No. 44 nationally.
The OSU men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action this weekend, March 22-23, at the John Jacobs Invitational in Norman, Okla.
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Men's Team Computer Rankings
1 Texas A&M
2 Arkansas
3 Florida
4 Texas
5 Auburn
6 Oregon
7 Wisconsin
8 Southern California
9 Florida State
10 LSU
11 Mississippi
12 UCLA
13 Oklahoma
14 Mississippi State
15 Arizona State
16 Texas Tech
17 Nebraska
18 Indiana
19 Minnesota
20 Arizona
21 Penn State
22 Oklahoma State
23 Kansas State
24 Georgia
25 Iowa State
NCAA Division I Individual Event Rankings
Men's 400m
26. Tyler Payton – 48.16
Men's High Jump
47. Taylor Buck – 2.00m/6-6.75
Women's 800m
44. Clara Nichols – 2:13.93
Women's Long Jump
11. Taylor Stolt – 6.01m/19-8.75
Women's Shot Put
19. Chase Ealey – 15.03m/49-3.75
Women's Hammer Throw
25. Caitlin Way – 54.43m/178-7
