Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Wraps Up Day One At USATF Championships
June 20, 2013 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
June 20, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa -
Chase Ealey took second in the women's junior shot put, and Craig Nowak finished third in the men's junior 5,000 meters on day one of the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday.
In the women's junior shot put,>Chase Ealey took second with a 15.75m/51-8.25 launch. With that finish, she earned a spot on the Pan-American team.
"I thought she could make the team," throws coach John Baumann said. "To win, she needed to put more effort into her technique. She hasn't competed since Austin, so it was a great effort for the day. It's all about the day, and she brought it."
In the junior division of the women's 800 meters, Savannah Camacho won her heat with a time of 2:09.66, automatically qualifying for tomorrow's final at 7:20 p.m.
On the men's side, Craig Nowak, who won the U.S. Junior Cross Country Championship in the 8,000 meters in February, took third in the 5,000 meter final with a time of 15:02.65.
In the 10,000 meters, Girma Mecheso ran a 29:51.81, which was good enough for 14th. OSU alum Ryan Vail took sixth, finishing in 29:14.76.
In the 1,500 meters, a field stacked with talent, Kirubel Erassa was able to take 18th, finishing in 3:43.82.
"I thought it was a pretty good day," OSU Coach Dave Smith said. "There's some tough competition out here and the conditions weren't perfect, but I thought we did well. Kirubel was in a loaded field, unlike anything he had seen before, but he did a really good job. Girma gave it everything he had in the 10k, but I think all the 5k's and 10k's have started to pile up on him. Many of the other athletes in the field haven't had to run in all the meets he has this year. It's tough. Our former athlete, Ryan Vail, did great to finish sixth. It was a good day."
Competition in Des Moines will resume tomorrow when Camacho runs in the women's junior 800 meter final, at 7:20 p.m.
2013 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships
June 20-23, 2013/ Des Moines, Iowa
Thursday, June 20
Men's Individual Results
1,500 Meters
18. Kirubel Erassa - 3:43.82
5,000 Meters Junior Division
3. Craig Nowak - 15:02.65
10,000 Meters
6. Ryan Vail - 29:14.76
14. Girma Mecheso - 29:51.81
Women's Individual Results
800 Meters Junior Division
3. Savannah Camacho - 2:09.66(Q)
Shot Put Junior Division
2.>Chase Ealey - 15.75m/51-8.25
Q - Denotes automatic qualification
