Oklahoma State University Athletics
Meet Notes: Bluegrass Festival
September 12, 2013 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Sept. 12, 2013
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State cross country will travel to Lexington, Ky., this weekend to compete in the Bluegrass Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Masterson Station Park.
How to Follow the Meets
Fans can follow the action live on Twitter, by following @run4okstate for updates. Final results will be published on www.ukathletics.com
Meet Schedule
On Saturday, the men's 8,000 meter race begins at 9:30 a.m., while the women's 5,000 meter race gets started at 10:10 a.m.
Quoting Coach Dave Smith
On the competition this weekend:
“There are going to be some good programs with some good athletes there this weekend, but it doesn't change much for us. We're going to run the same way no matter who is there. We're going to devise a plan and try to go execute it. We're going to try to teach our young guys how to race the way that we race. It doesn't matter who is there, we are going to race the way we race.”
On the progression of the men's team so far:
“It's really hard to tell just from workouts. We look good, but we haven't tested anyone yet. The workouts at this portion of the season are more for our younger guys. We're running at intensities and paces right now that may not test our top guys to where they separate themselves. There have been no red flags so far, though.”
On the chemistry within the women's team:
“The main difference I've seen so far with this year's team is the trust in each other to understand what this time of the year is all about. It's not about the front group. It's about building depth within the middle groups and bringing them along so at the end of the year, they are running their best. We've had great leadership from Monika Juodeskaite. She's doing a great job of understanding her role, positively encouraging the younger runners and giving them some positive experiences while getting their emotions in the right place.”
2013 Season Preview
OSU Cross Country doesn't rebuild, it reloads. OSU is gunning for an unprecedented fourth national championship in five years and sixth-straight Big 12 title, and they have the personnel to do it. The Cowboys lost some talent from the 2012 NCAA Championship squad, but still return three All-Americans and five returning scorer's from last year's championships overall, plus a crop of exciting transfers and underclassmen ready to contribute.
It's this returning talent that caught the eye of the USTFCCCA voters, who voted OSU the No. 1 men's team in the country in their preseason poll.
On the women's side, the Cowgirls could be poised for a breakout season.
OSU returns its top-six runners from last season's 26th-place team finish. All six women finished in the top 250, including Monika Juodeskaite (41st) and Natalja Piliusina (50th), who finished in the top 50.
The Cowgirls will also begin the season nationally ranked. The USTFCCCA poll has the Cowgirls pegged at No. 21 nationally, and No. 2 in the Midwest Region. The OSU women have yet to win a Big 12 team title, but as the highest ranked team from the conference entering the season, that could change in a hurry.
Last Time Out
Neal Smith and Adela Hofmannova won the men's and women's individual titles and both Oklahoma State squads swept their duels in an impressive season opener for OSU cross country at the Hurricane Festival.
On the men's side, the No. 1 Cowboys went 3-0 in their duels, defeating Tulsa, UL-Monroe and Oklahoma. Neal Smith led the way, winning the individual title, with a four-mile time of 20:18. A trio of Cowboys finished on his heels.
David Osborn (20:22), Chad Noelle (20:31) and Kevin Colon (20:31) finished second, third and fourth respectively. Taylor Monaghan (11th), Tommy Casey (12th), Justin Vilhauer (14th) and Zach Wills (20th) rounded out the top 20.
It was a similar result for the No. 21 Cowgirls, who went 4-0 in their duels against Tulsa, Oklahoma, UL-Monroe and Missouri State. Adela Hofmannova won the individual championship, finishing the two-mile race in 11:14.
She was joined in the top five by freshman Gintare Zenkeviciute, who took fifth, in 11:28. Natalie Baker (11:42) and Monica Lake (11:43) finished eighth and ninth, respectively. The Cowgirls claimed nine of the top 16 spots.
Cowboy Names To Know
Cowboy cross country is headlined by three returners, who have combined for six total cross country All-American honors. Here are the athletes and their honors:
(2010 Cross Country, 2011 Cross Country, 2012 Cross Country)
Shadrack Kipchirchir
(2010 Cross Country, 2012 Cross Country)
(2012 Cross Country)
Shane Moskowitz and Kirubel Erassa bring more experience from last year's NCAA championships. Oregon transfer Chad Noelle, a sub-four miler and NCAA outdoor qualifier during the track and field season, Craig Nowak, the Junior 8k U.S. Cross Country champion, and talented sophomore Charles Mathenge are among others looking to factor into the mix.
Cowgirl Names To Know
On the women's side, the Cowgirls landed the No. 2 preseason ranking in the Midwest region, after finishing as the Big 12 runner-up.
The key returners from last year's 26th-place finish at nationals are Monika Juodeskaite and Natalja Piliusina, who finished 41st and 50th, individually. Piliusina also has momentum from a record-breaking track and field season, where she won the NCAA title in the outdoor 1,500 meters.
Cream of the Crop
Both the men's and women's teams are ranked in the top 25 to begin the season.
After winning the 2012 NCAA Championship, OSU's third title in four years, the Cowboys landed the No.1 preseason ranking in both the Midwest Region and the nation.
The women's side enters the season ranked at No. 21. The Cowgirls are the highest ranked team out of the Big 12, and No. 2 in the Midwest Region.
