Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Track and Field Back In Top 10
March 05, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
March 5, 2013
STILLWATER -
The Oklahoma State men's indoor track and field team, powered by the distance medley team's school-record run at Notre Dame this weekend, is back in the top 10, ranked No. 9 in this week's United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association top 25, it was announced today.
This is the OSU's third appearance in the top 10 this season, and the sixth-straight week ranked in the USTFCCCA poll, which is now their longest stint in these rankings.
“The momentum has been building all year,” OSU Coach Dave Smith said. “With how everyone has been running, we look in position to score some points at nationals. Nationals are so hard to predict with 300 teams, but if we can go out there and perform the way we have all year, we could go get a top-10 finish.”
Individually, on the men's side, the Cowboys have five of the 31 sub-four minute miles run in the NCAA this season—only Oregon has as many. Raul Botezan (No. 8), Tom Farrell (No. 11), Kirubel Erassa (No. 12), Fabian Clarkson (No. 24) and Shane Moskowitz (No. 25) are all ranked in the top 25.
The distance medley team's record-breaking run made Erassa, Botezan, Farrell and Tyler Payton the No. 4 distance medley team in the country.
In the 3,000 meters, Erassa (No. 7), Farrell (No. 11) and Clarkson (No. 19) all stayed in the top 20 this week. Shadrack Kipchirchir stayed at No. 26 with his personal best at the Big 12 meet.
In the 5,000 meters, Kipchirchir's school-record run of 13:38.57 in Seattle still has him ranked third nationally. Girma Mecheso shot up to number 17 after his 13:45.61 in New York City this weekend.
Big 12 Champion Nick Miller is still near the top of the weight throw rankings, at No. 15.
On the women's side, Natalja Piliusina is still in the top five in both the 800 meters (No. 5), and the mile (No. 4).
Monika Juodeskaite stayed in the top 20, ranking No. 19 in the 3,000 meters.
After finishing in second at the Big 12 meet, the women's distance medley relay, featuring Piliusina, Juodeskaite, Mihaela Bobos and Clara Nichols, received the No. 31 ranking this week.
In the shot put, Chase Ealey kept her national ranking, showing up at No. 43 this week.
The OSU men's and women's track and field teams will be in action this weekend, March 8-9, competing in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark..
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Men's Team Computer Rankings
1. Arkansas
2. Florida
3. Texas A&M
4. Wisconsin
5. Oregon
6. Florida State
7. Nebraska
8. Virginia Tech
9. Oklahoma State
10. Penn State
11. Texas Tech
12. Arizona
13. Minnesota
14. Clemson
15. LSU
16. Arizona State
17. Texas
18. NC State
19. Indiana
20. Tulsa
21. Stanford
22. UT Arlington
23. Mississippi
24. Auburn
25. Kansas State
NCAA Division I Individual Event Rankings
Men's Mile
8. Raul Botezan – 3:57.79
11. Tom Farrell – 3:58.20
12. Kirubel Erassa – 3:58.24
24. Fabian Clarkson – 3:59.47
25. Shane Moskowitz – 3:59.48
Men's 3000m
7. Kirubel Erassa – 7:50.92
11 Tom Farrell – 7:51.77
19. Fabian Clarkson – 7:53.92
26. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 7:56.20
Men's 5000m
3. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 13:38.57
17. Girma Mecheso – 13:45.61
Distance Medley Relay
4. Oklahoma State – 9:28.38
Men's Weight Throw
15. Nick Miller – 20.97m/68-09.75
Women's 800m
5. Natalja Piliusina – 2:04.35
Women's Mile
4. Natalja Piliusina – 4:32.26
Women's 3000m
19. Monika Juodeskaite – 9:10.83
Women's 5000m
45. Monika Juodeskaite - 16:19.79
Women's Distance Medley Relay
31. Oklahoma State – 11:17.28
Natalja Piliusina
Women's Shot Put
43. Chase Ealey – 15.80m/51-10.00
