Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Adds Track Assistant
August 27, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Aug 26, 2013
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State director of track and field and cross country Dave Smith announced the addition of Mason Cathey to his coaching staff today. Cathey will assist with the Cowboy and Cowgirl distance runners.
Cathey comes to Stillwater after spending the previous three years as an assistant coach at Butler.
During her time at Butler, she helped lead the Bulldogs to an Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in 2012, as well as Horizon League Championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, Cathey helped Katie Clark become the second female student-athlete in Butler history to earn All-America honors after she placed 22nd at the 2012 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
"We're excited to have Mason join our program," Smith said. "She'll help with cross country and in the distance events. She's got a lot of good experience and was a professional athlete herself. She has competed at the highest levels of USA Track and Field and has accomplished some of the things that the athletes in our program are looking to accomplish. It's a great fit."
Cathey competed as a professional runner for Saucony and PowerBar, specializing in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. While coaching at Butler, she frequently trained with the women's team and posted personal bests at every distance from 800 to 10,000 meters.
During the 2011 USA Outdoor Championships, Cathey finished the semifinal heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a 9:53.56 mark, placing her third in her heat and helping her to an eighth place finish in the finals. She also placed fourth in the same event at the 2011 Pan Am games and ran a PR and Olympic mark in 2012.
Prior to coaching at Butler, Cathey coached the men's and women's cross country teams at the University of Central Florida and was an assistant at Duke. She served as a critical component in guiding the Blue Devils to a 10th place finish at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships and a 12th place mark at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Cathey served as the distance coach for over a year at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Fla., where she guided the team to a state championship in 2005 before taking an internship at USA Track and Field in 2006.
"It's great to get to work with Dave Smith and such a terrific program here at Oklahoma State," Cathey said. "There is incredible support here from the athletic department for student-athletes to be successful. I'm excited to be part of such a strong institution."
A graduate of the University of Florida, Cathey received a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science and a master's degree in applied physiology and kinesiology while helping the Gators to three consecutive Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championships.
