OSU Travels To Manhattan For Wildcat Invite

January 16, 2014 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Jan. 16, 2014

STILLWATER -

Oklahoma State track and field will travel to Manhattan, Kan., this weekend, for the KSU Wildcat Invitational, on Jan. 18.

How to Follow the Meets

Online, fans can follow the action live on Twitter by following @run4okstate for updates. Final results will be published on www.okstate.com

Meet Schedule

Saturday's action will begin with field events at noon, with women followed by men in each event. At 2:30 p.m., the running events begin with a rolling schedule, with the women again followed by the men.

Quoting Coach Dave Smith

On starting the indoor season as the No. 10 team in the nation:

“It's a great honor and it's nice to be recognized, especially in track and field, where we haven't had the success we've had in cross country. I think we are definitely capable of that kind of finish at the NCAA championships, or better. I'm excited for the season.”

On what he expects of those competing for the first time this season:

“I expect them to compete hard. I want everyone going out there and trying to win their events. We're really emphasizing competing. We are worrying more about beating the people we're lined up against than the times or marks we put up. Fast times will come if you approach events in that fashion.”

On the effects of the changes to the NCAA qualification process:

“It makes it tough. It really condenses the season to about six weeks. There aren't great opportunities to race every weekend. We will have to pick and choose and people won't e able to qualify in as many events. Without the last chance meets, I think qualifying times will be slower.”

Preseason Props

Natalja Piliusina, defending NCAA outdoor 1,500 meter champion, has received votes for the 2014 women's preseason Bowerman Trophy Watch List.

The Bowerman Trophy is the highest honor in collegiate track and field—similar to what the Heisman Trophy is for college football.

Piliusina had a monster 2013 track and field season, piling up the accolades in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, including a national title, two All-American honors, two Big 12 titles and three school records.

In her collegiate career, Piliusina is an NCAA Champion, seven-time All-American, eight-time Big 12 Champion, 10-time All-Big 12 performer and holds seven OSU track and field/cross country records.

Throw It Down

The OSU throwers exploded on to the scene in 2013, and they're back--ready for more.

Leading the way, is three-time All-American Nick Miller, who ended the 2013 indoor season with a bang.

Miller entered the NCAA Indoor Championships with the 15th-best weight throw mark among the 16 competitors, but launched back-to-back personal bests to finish fourth and earn first team All-American status.

On the women's side, Caitlin Way and Chase Ealey return fresh off impressive 2013 campaigns.

Way was an All-Big 12 performer in the indoor weight throw and outdoor weight throw, and was an NCAA Regional qualifier in the hammer.

Ealey just missed All-Big 12 honors in the indoor shot put, but earned them in not only the outdoor shot, but also the javelin, which she had not thrown competitively since high school. Ealey was also an NCAA Regional Qualifier in the shot put.

Life In The Fast Lane

The sprint events have not been a major factor for OSU track and field in recent years, but newly-hired Sprints Coach Diego Flaquer is on the way to changing that.

Flaquer has been lighting it up on the recruiting trail. He has already helped land multiple prized sprint recruits, and will be coaching Tulsa transfer John Teeters, who was an 2013 NCAA outdoor qualifier in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4 x 100 relay.

Last Year At The Wildcat Invite

The Oklahoma State men's and women's track and field teams competed at the Wildcat Invitational at Kansas State, where six personal bests were set, and Kirubel Erassa set a meet record.

In the 3,000 meters, the Pokes took the top four finishes. Erassa picked up a first-place finish and a meet record when he crossed the finish line in 8:24.50. Zach Wills (8:30.40) finished second, Kevin Colón (8:34.90) third and David Osborn finished in 8:52.69 for fourth place.

Colón set a personal best in the mile with a time of 4:16.21, which gave him a second-place finish. In the 200 meters, Cody Kenny set a personal best with a time of 23.30.

Nick Miller (19.69m/64-7.25) picked up where he left off in December 2012, earning a first-place finish and a new personal best in the weight throw.

On the women's side, in the 1,000 meters, Adela Hofmannova finished in first place with a time of 2:51.11, a new personal best. That time also moved her to seventh all-time on the school's record list. Kate Kujawa (2:54.82) finished in second place.

In the 400 meters, Clara Nichols (57.66) finished in first place and Bailey Johnson (1:00.31) finished third. Nichols's time moved her into eighth place on the schools record list.

Chase Ealey continued her dominance in the shot put, winning the event for the third time this season. Her throw of 15.80m/51-10.00 set a new personal best and moved her to second all-time on the school's record list.

Last Time Out

Oklahoma State opened its indoor season as the Cowboys and Cowgirls competed at the Kansas State Winter Invitational.

The men's squad picked up three first-place finishes on the day, including Tyler Payton's 1:13.65 finish in the 600-yard run, Luis Martinez's 4:20.47 in the mile and Charles Mathenge's 8:42.53 in the 3,000 meters.

The Cowboys finished the mile 1-2-3, with Alexander Johannson (4:20.76) and Brigham Hedges (4:21.79) following Martinez. Oklahoma State also finished as a group in the men's 3,000 meters, with Noah Gade finishing second at 8:43.65 and Tommy Casey at fourth in 8:51.02.

The Oklahoma State women's squad had 10 top-five finishes, highlighted by Brittney Reid's fourth-place 7.91 in the 60-meter dash, a time that ranks sixth on OSU's all-time best list.

Reid also reached a personal-best in the long jump as she leapt 5.37 meters for a sixth-place finish. Jordan Highsmith finished two places better in that event with a 5.50-meter mark.

A pair of Cowgirls came away with first-place finishes--Savannah Camacho in the 1,000 meters at 2:54.77 and Emily Helms in the mile at 5:17.49.

A New Home

OSU track and field now has a new state-of-the-art facility to call home. The new complex was finished in the summer of 2013, and the teams have already started using it for practice. The complex is home to new locker rooms, a large team room and a large training room, among other brand new features for the teams to enjoy.