Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Sweep Big 12 Track & Field Postseason Awards
March 06, 2014 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
March 6, 2014
IRVING, Texas -
Oklahoma State men's track & field swept the Big 12 postseason awards for the first time in school history, as Dave Smith won Coach of the Year, Kirubel Erassa won Performer of the Year and Tyreek Hill won Freshman of the Year, the league office announced today.
These awards come on the heels of OSU's first Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championship in school history, as it became the first school in the Big 12 era to have both a cross country and indoor conference title, achieving it in the same academic year.
This is the first time OSU has swept the postseason conference awards in any track & field season.
This is Smith's first Big 12 Indoor Coach of the Year award, adding to the six-straight Coach of the Year awards he has compiled in cross country. Smith is the first coach in OSU history to win a track and field conference coach of the year award.
Erassa was named Big 12 Performer of the Year after becoming the first Cowboy in school history to win three indoor conference titles at the same meet (mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters). Erassa was the high individual point scorer of the meet, with 30 team points.
Erassa is the second Cowboy to win this award, joining German Fernandez, who won it in 2009.
Hill's honor comes after he broke OSU's 25 year-old 200 meter record twice in Ames, on his way to winning the Big 12 200 meter title. He also broke his own school record in the 60 meter dash, taking second. He scored 18 team points.
Hill also joins German Fernandez as the second Cowboy to win Freshman of the Year. Fernandez took home that award in 2009, as well.
Hill, also a member of the OSU football team, is a junior college transfer in his first year as a Cowboy, but is a freshman in terms of track and field eligibility.
“It's great recognition for the program,” Smith said. “When you have a guy win freshman of the year, it's usually a sign of great things to come. It's awesome for Tyreek. This is terrific for Kirubel, as well. He put together a totally selfless and team-oriented performance last weekend. He did what he did so we could win a team title, and we couldn't have done it without him. I'm really happy for him.”
OSU track and field will be back in action March 14-15, at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, in Albuquerque, N.M.
